Fairfield volleyball team tops the MAAC Preseason Poll – Volleyball News

According to the freshly released news, the Fairfield University women's volleyball team has been chosen as the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Conference favourite for the 2012 season.
The MAAC coaches held the preseason poll on Thursday and announced the Fairfield squad as the top team to secure the conference title. Fairfield University is scheduled to set up the field of play for the 2012 MAAC Volleyball Championship, which makes it the top contender to get hold of the No. 1 position in the conference play. The team will be equipped with stupendous home support and the competitive advantage of playing at familiar courts will also increase the chances of success for the hosts.
Furthermore, the MAAC Coaches announced the Preseason All-MAAC Team, which featured Fairfield stars Sophomore Caitlin Stapleton and junior Rachel Romansky.
Fairfield finished the last season as a runner up in MAAC Volleyball Championship. Nonetheless, the team topped the preseason poll with a total of 97 points given by the MAAC Coaches. Fairfield ladies have immensely improved and seem totally shaped up to win the conference title.
Additionally, the MAAC Conference office announced the preseason rankings for another 9 teams. Here is a little rundown on the preseason poll results:

1. Fairfield – 97 points
2. Niagara University – 80
3. Manhattan College – 73
4. Siena College - 69
5. Canisius College - 63
6. Marist College - 60
7. Iona College - 45
8. Loyola University Maryland - 31
9. Rider University - 21
10. Saint Peter's University - 11

Preseason All-MAAC Team was also announced on Thursday, which features a total of 9 players. Siena's Taylor Akana of Saint Peter’s University was picked as the Preseason Player of the Year. In the previous season, she emerged as the MAAC Offensive Player of the Year. Moreover, she led the MAAC with 4.46 kills per set and contributed a total of 345.5 in league play.
Joining Akana on the Preseason All-MAAC Team will be Leslie Akeo of Siena, Canisius' Samantha Good, Rachel Romansky and Caitlin Stapleton of Fairfield, Niagara's Kari Honomichl and Michelle James and Iona's Catrina Warren.

Fairfield is scheduled to kick off the 2012 season on August 24. The 2011 MAAC Coach of the Year Alija Pittenger will lead the team into the new season. Team is enjoying a good form and has high hopes to do well in 2012 season.