Preseason Poll Release

Westfield, Mass.—The Framingham State Rams have been picked to win the 2014 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference women's volleyball championship as selected by the seven coaches from around the league.

The Rams took the top spot with five first place votes for 35 points. Last season, the squad finished  5-1 in conference behind 2013 MASCAC Freshman of the Year Alycia Rackliffe, who led the team with 373 kills and  44 solo blocks. As a team, Framingham State led the conference in kills per set (10.95), hitting percentage (.295) and service aces (56).

Westfield State lands in second with the final two first place votes for 32 points. The 2013 MASCAC regular season and tournament champions look to repeat their success under 2013 Champion's Choice Coach of the Year Fred Glanville. Returning for the Owls is Carolyn Cote, who named to the MASCAC All-Conference squad after netting 72 kills, 41 service aces and 217 digs.

Bridgewater State is slated to finish third with 24 points.  Last season, the Bears finished the year 4-2 in conference play. Leading  Bridgewater State was All-Conference honoree Hannah Maymon, who led the team with 281 kills which was good enough for fifth highest in the conference.

Rounding out the top five is Worcester State and Salem State in fourth and fifth, respectively. The Lancers earned 23 points while the Vikings claimed 14 points. Worcester State brings back Alyssa Jasper, who was first in the conference in kills per set (3.63), second in kills (370) and fourth in hitting percentage (.249) to earn MASCAC All-Conference accolades. Salem State returns All-Conference middle blocker Emily Peay, who finished 2013 with 15 solo blocks and the fourth best conference blocks per set percentage at 0.60.

Closing out the 2013 poll is MCLA with 13 points and Massachusetts Maritime with six points in sixth and seventh, respectively. The Trailblazers return the  duo of Sam Anderson and Rachel Mills who had 137 and 136 kills, respectively in the 2013 season.  For the Buccaneers, Emily Calnan returns after netting 81 kills and 12 solo blocks for Massachusetts Maritime last season. 

The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, the nation's oldest Division III men's  and women's playing conference, has a rich and storied tradition of competitive success while celebrating excellence in the classroom.  MASCAC member schools include Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, MCLA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University.  Two other institutions, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Plymouth State University, are affiliate members of the conference in the sports of football and men's ice hockey, while Western Connecticut State University joined the conference as an affiliate member in football beginning in 2013. 

2014 MASCAC Volleyball Pre-Season Coaches Poll

(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

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