Women’s Volleyball Tabbed Second in GNAC Preseason Poll
WINTHROP, Mass. – The Rivier women's volleyball team has been picked second in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference office announced Monday morning. The Raiders earned 232 points, including four first-place votes from the head coaches across the league.
The only team to place above Rivier on the list was the seven-time defending champions, JWU-Providence, who is also receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/TARAFELX Division III Poll.
The Raiders finished the 2022 campaign with a 26-5 overall record after posting a 13-0 league ledger under the direction of first-year head coach Jeff Costa. After a GNAC quarterfinals sweep of Saint Joseph's (Me.), the Raiders saw their season come to a close in a five-set loss to Simmons in the semifinals.
Despite losing six student-athletes to graduation, Costa and the team look to make a triumphant return in 2023, beginning this weekend when the campaign opens up at the Springfield College Invitational.
| TEAMS | POINTS (FPV) | |
| 1. | JWU-Providence | 245 (10) |
| 2. | Rivier | 232 (4) |
| 3. | Simmons | 226 (2) |
| 4. | Lasell | 218 |
| 5. | Regis | 188 |
| 6. | Norwich | 154 |
| 7. | Saint Joseph's (Me.) | 139 |
| 8. | New England Col. | 133 |
| 9. | Elms | 130 |
| 10. | Mitchell | 109 |
| 11. | Colby-Sawyer | 106 |
| 12. | Emmanuel (Mass.) | 95 |
| 13. | Dean | 69 |
| 14. | Saint Joseph (Conn.) | 62 |
| 15. | Albertus Magnus | 44 |
| 16. | Anna Maria | 26 |
