University of Delaware Athletics
Blue Hens Receive Highest-Ever NFHCA Preseason Ranking; Open Year Slotted No. 14
8/23/2016 11:41:00 AM | Field Hockey
NFHCA Release
CHANDLER, Ariz. – Coming off of one of the most successful seasons in program history, the Delaware field hockey team received 297 votes for a No. 14 standing in the Penn Monto/NFHCA preseason poll, as announced by the organization Tuesday.
The Blue Hens, who finished 2015 with their third straight CAA title, a trip to the NCAA Tournament and a No. 12 ranking, had previously never been slotted higher than No. 18 (2013) in the preseason standings.
North Carolina took home the top spot with 915 points and 16 first place votes. The reigning national champion, Syracuse, led all schools with 25 first place votes, but finished second to the 2015 runner-up Tar Heels with 898 total points.
UConn (818; 3 first place votes), Duke (758) and Virginia (746; 2) rounded out the top five.
Delaware returns nine starters and 14 letter winners from a season ago, including the CAA's Preseason Player of the Year in senior Esmée Peet (Zeewolde, The Netherlands/RSG Slingerbos) and All-CAA Preseason honorees in junior Emmeline Oltmans (Baarn, The Netherlands/Het Baarnsch Lyceum), and sophomores Lisa Giezeman (Leidschendam, The Netherlands/Sin-Maartens/Boerhaave) and Greta Nauck (Krefeld, Germany/Gymnasium am Moltekeplatz).
In total, 13 of UD's 18 regular season opponents garnered votes in the preseason rankings.
The Hens open the 2016 campaign this coming weekend by hosting Ohio State on Saturday and Sunday, with both starts slated for noon at Rullo Stadium. The Buckeyes received 12 votes in the NFHCA preseason poll.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact Maggie Hayon | mhayon@udel.edu | O: 302-831-6389 | C: 920-912-6635
