Women's Volleyball: Raiders selected 2nd in annual Pre-Season Poll

WINTHROP, Mass. - Following its championship game showing a year ago, the Rivier Women's Volleyball team has been tabbed to finish second in the league according to the 2019 GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference office announced Monday. 

This marks the 12^th consecutive year that the Raiders have been selected into the league's preseason top three after garnering 155 points from the conference's 13 head coaches.

Three-time defending champion Johnson & Wales, who is ranked eighth in the initial American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coaches Poll of the season, was a unanimous selection to land atop the league for the fourth time in as many years. 

Six points separate third and fourth place with the Chargers of Colby Sawyer College edging out the Sharks of Simmons University, 136 to 130. The Rams of Suffolk University round out the preseason top five with 110 points.

Craig Kolek returns for his twentieth season on the sideline of the blue-and-white and looks to take his team back to the conference championship game this year. He will rely on his veteran leadership on and off the court. Returning to the Raiders' line-up are seniors Taylor Dunster (2.60 kps, 2,86 dps) and Jess Whyte (2.40 kps, 0.83 bps), as well as sophomore Sydney Racevicius (2.37 kps, 2.75 dps).

The 2019 season for Rivier Women's Volleyball is set to get underway Labor Day Weekend in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Over the two-day event the Raiders will serve off against Washington College Saturday, Aug. 31 at 11 am & Sunday, September 1 at 11am along with playing against two other universities based in Puerto Rico.