Volleyball Lands 6th in MASCAC Preseason Poll

FITCHBURG, MA: The Fitchburg State women's volleyball team was selected sixth in the MASCAC Preseason Coaches Poll. Coming in the top spot is last year's regular season champions, Westfield State.

The Owls received four first place votes to land in the top spot. In 2023, they were 7-0 to take home the MASCAC Regular Season title. All-Conference honoree Julia Bartiet returns after registering 149 kills for the Owls with a .247 hitting percentage and ranked seventh in the league with 53 total blocks.

Close behind in second place, with the other four votes in first place, is Framingham State. The Rams were 4-3 and claimed the 2023 MASCAC Tournament crown. Last season, Natalie Reynolds earned MASCAC Rookie of the Year and her first All-Conference honors after she slammed home 282 kills (2.54 per set) with a .302 hitting percentage, 59 total blocks (22 solo), and 43 service aces, all of which were in the top 10 of the MASCAC. She also collected 105 digs last season.

Sitting in third place is MCLA. The Trailblazers were 5-2 in league action last season. Returning is Chloie Garber, who registered 248 kills, 81 service aces, 287 digs, and 24 blocks (11 solo) with a .231 hitting percentage to grab a spot on the All-Conference team in 2023.

Worcester State comes in fourth in this year's poll. The Lancers were 6-1 with the help of All-Conference honoree Maeve Cadogan, who ended the season with 71 total blocks and 48 block assists while adding 133 kills, 56 digs, and ten service aces.

Up next in fifth is Bridgewater State. Last season, the Bears had two wins in conference action. Lily Welch collected 116 kills, 56 digs, and 25 total blocks (12 solo) with six service aces last season.

Fitchburg State is in the sixth spot. Stephanie Sardella helped the Falcons to two league victories last year after registering 228 kills, 256 digs, 11 assists, 41 service aces, two solo blocks, and seven blocking assists over 26 matches to land on the All-Conference team.

Rounding out the 2024 poll is Salem State in seventh and Massachusetts Maritime in eighth. For the Vikings, Presley Shairs is back after she had 147 kills, 17 service aces, 45 digs, and 22 total blocks last season. For the Buccaneers, Shayla Narodowg returns after a 2023 campaign that saw her finish fifth in the league with 416 assists while also tallying 193 digs, 21 total blocks, and 82 kills.

2024 MASCAC Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll

(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

1. Westfield State (4) 45 points
2. Framingham State (4) 41 points
3. MCLA 39 points
4. Worcester State 35 points
5. Bridgewater State 23 points
6. Fitchburg State 18 points
7. Salem State 16 points
8. Massachusetts Maritime 7 points

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