BIDDEFORD, Maine – The Commonwealth Coast Conference Coaches' Preseason Poll unveiled the Suffolk volleyball team has been tabbed to finish exactly where it left off a year ago according to the vote conducted by the league's 10 head coaches.
Suffolk secured 44 points to slid into seventh ahead of the University of New England (29), Nichols (21) and Curry (13). It is the highest prediction for the Rams in the CCC poll after going 11-17 overall and 3-6 against conference counterparts in their inaugural season in the league a year ago.
Two-time defending champion Endicott was picked to threepeat as the Gulls garnered eight of the possible 10 first place votes for 98 points.
The remaining two first place picks were divided between Gordon and Roger Williams. Both the Fighting Scots and Hawks finished with 78 points to share second place.
Salve Regina (76), Wentworth (64), and Western New England (49) make up spots four through six in that order, respectively.
Scott Blanchard is back for his fifth season on the sideline of the blue-and-gold and looks to take his squad even further than a year ago. Last season, Suffolk played into the CCC post season as the seven seed, but was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
Returning to the Rams' line-up is sophomore McKenna Keowen (3.49 kps, 2.42 dps), an all-region and all-conference player from last season, as well as senior Kenzley Bell (3.90 kps), who also received region and conference recognition in 2021. Setter Harmony Johnson (5.24 aps) will conclude her collegiate career and has potential to be the Rams' all-time assist leader as she enters her final campaign 521 from tying the mark currently held by Julie Sullivan, who donned a Suffolk jersey from 2007-10.
First serve of the 26th edition of Suffolk volleyball will take place at the ENC Invitational over Labor Day Weekend. The Rams will first take on Wellesley at the Lahue Athletic Center in Quincy, Massachusetts Friday, Sept. 2 with tilts against invite host Eastern Nazarene and Maine Presque Isle on Saturday, Sept. 3's slate.
| 2022 CCC VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL | |||
| SCHOOL 1. Endicott T2. Gordon T2. Roger Williams 4. Salve Regina 5. Wentworth 6. Western New England 7. Suffolk 8. University of New England 9. Nichols 10. Curry |
Point (FPV) 98 (8) 78 (1) 78 (1) 76 64 49 44 29 21 13 |
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