University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hens Picked Third in CAA Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
8/14/2013 4:11:00 PM | Volleyball
League newcomer College of Charleston, which won either the regular season or conference tournament championship during each of the last 12 years while in the Southern Conference, was a unanimous choice for the top spot. The Cougars received all seven possible first place votes and 49 points, followed by Northeastern which was picked second with 36 points.
The Blue Hens, who went 16-14 overall last season, finished second in the league standings with a 9-3 mark, and advanced to the CAA Tournament Final, were selected third with 34 points. Defending conference champion Hofstra was picked fourth with 33 points and received the other first place vote, while James Madison was tabbed fifth with 28 points. Towson (19 points), William & Mary (15) and UNCW (10) rounded out the poll.
Delaware will again look to challenge for the conference crown after winning either the CAA regular season or tournament title during five of the last six seasons. The Blue Hens, led by 12th-year head coach Bonnie Kenny, return five starters and seven letterwinners from the 2012 squad that won 13 of 15 matches before its heartbreaking loss in the conference final.
UD will be paced by a pair of 2012 CAA All-Rookie Team selections in Mackenzie Olsen and Ariel Shonk. Olsen started all 30 matches during her freshman campaign, ranking second in the league with 10.00 assists per set and finishing third on the Blue hens with 251 digs. Shonk was tabbed the conference Defensive Specialist of the Year and picked up third team All-CAA honors after leading the league with 5.68 digs per set, the second highest average in a UD single season.
Sophomore Katie Hillman, who ranked second on the Blue Hens with 255 kills a year ago, and senior Katie Hank, who ranked third with 249 kills, each appeared in all 30 matches in 2012 and return as outside hitters. Redshirt sophomore Chandler Bryant started all 30 matches while posting 89 kills and 74 blocks as a middle hitter, while senior Kori Reigel was one of four players to appear in all 109 sets and contributed 186 digs on the year.
Delaware opens its 2013 regular season on Friday, Aug. 30 when the Blue Hens take on the host Waves in the Pepperdine Asics Classics at 10:30 p.m. ET in Malibu, Calif.
2013 CAA Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. College of Charleston (7) - 49
2. Northeastern - 36
3. Delaware - 34
4. Hofstra - 33
5. James Madison - 28
6. Towson - 19
7. William & Mary - 15
8. UNCW - 10
