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Stockton Selected as the Favorite by NJAC Coaches
Story courtesy of the NJAC
PITMAN--After capturing the 2009 NJAC Championship en route to a 27-12 overall record, Richard Stockton College was selected as the 2010 preseason women’s volleyball favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Ospreys will be seeking their third consecutive NJAC championship and their seventh conference crown since 1996.
Led by fifth-year head coach Allison Walker, Stockton was selected to finish first on seven-of-the-nine ballots cast by the league head coaches. In 2009, the Ospreys posted a 7-1 conference record for a second place finish in the NJAC regular season before capturing their second consecutive NJAC title with conference tournament victories over Ramapo and Montclair State. Under the leadership of Walker, Stockton has produced a 99-48 overall record, including NJAC Championships in 2006, 2008, and 2009. The Ospreys return a league-high four all-conference players from their 2009 NJAC Championship team including junior outside hitter Christine Velott, sophomore middle hitter Stephanie Warner, junior setter Laura Hausman, and senior libero Christine Astarita.
Ramapo College, which advanced to the semifinals of the 2009 ECAC Metro/Upstate Tournament en route to a 25-11 overall record, was selected to place second and received two first place votes. The Roadrunners placed third in the 2009 NJAC race with a 6-2 league mark. Under the direction of sixth-year head coach Robert Pichardo, Ramapo has accumulated a 92-60 overall record, improving Pichardo’s career collegiate coaching record to 192-104. The Roadrunners return a pair of all-league players from their 2009 ECAC squad including junior setter Tiffany Fischer and junior libero Elizabeth Steck.
Rowan University, which posted a 13-17 overall record in 2009, was selected to place third. Now in her second stint as head coach of the Profs, head coach Libby Ranero has produced an 87-132 overall record in eight seasons at Rowan. The Profs return the reigning NJAC Rookie of the Year in sophomore outside hitter Katie Havlicek.
William Paterson University, which notched a 21-8 overall record
in 2009, was selected to place sixth. Sandy Ferrarella, the
longest-tenured NJAC women’s volleyball coach, will enter her
32nd season with a career record of 539-331. The Pioneers return
one all-conference player from their 2009 squad in junior outside
hitter Megan Maher.
Kean University, which tallied an 11-15 overall record in 2009
under rookie head coach Don Perkins, was selected to place
seventh.
New Jersey City University, which posted a 7-17 overall record in
2009 under rookie head coach Nicole Tallarida, was selected to
place eighth. The Gothic Knights return one all-conference player
from their 2009 team in junior outside hitter Tabitha Jordan.
Rutgers-Newark, led by fourth-year head coach Karl France, was
selected to finish ninth. The Scarlet Raiders posted a 4-26 overall
record in 2009.
The 29th season of NJAC women’s volleyball will get under way on Wednesday, September 1 with Kean, Montclair State, Rutgers-Camden, and Rutgers-Newark in non-conference action. Conference play will begin two weeks later on Wednesday, September 15 when Rowan hosts Richard Stockton in the first NJAC match of the season. The top six regular season finishers will advance to the NJAC Championship Tournament which will begin with first round action on Tuesday, November 2. The NJAC Tournament semifinals will be conducted on Thursday, November 4, and the league championship match will be played at the site of the highest remaining seed on Saturday, November 6. The winner of the NJAC Tournament receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.
2010 NJAC Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll |
|
| 1. | Richard Stockton (7) |
| 2. | Ramapo (2) |
| 3. | Rowan |
| 4. | Montclair State |
| 5. | Rutgers-Camden (dark horse) |
| 6. | William Paterson |
| 7. | Kean |
| 8. | New Jersey City |
| 9. | Rutgers-Newark |
| First Place Votes In Parentheses | |
