Stevens Favored to Regain Empire 8 Volleyball Title
Stevens Institute of Technology, which won the conference title in each of its first three seasons before failing to make the conference tournament last year, is the preseason favorite in the coaches’ poll to regain the Empire 8 Volleyball Championship title this year. The Ducks finished 34-6 last season and advanced to the NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship Round of 16.
Junior outside hitter Maggie Kowalska is a two-time All-American and AVCA All-Region returnee for the Ducks. The 2009 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year led the team with 395 kills in 40 matches last year and finished second on the team with 131 total blocks. Sophomore middle blocker Chrissy Dickinson earned honorable mention all-conference recognition in her rookie campaign after setting a school record with 134 blocks and adding 283 kills. Stevens received six first-place votes in the coaches’ poll.
Defending champion Ithaca College received one first-place vote and is the coaches’ selection to finish second this season. Senior outside hitter Jessica Hoeffner and junior middle blocker Kate Thoene each garnered first-team all-conference accolades last season. Hoeffner led the team with 2.9 kills per set, while Thoene averaged 2.5 kills and 1.2 blocks per set.
Elmira College also received one first-place vote and was chosen by the coaches to finish third this season. Junior outside hitter Sasha Zavadska was named Empire 8 Player of the Year in 2010. She earned All-American honors, averaging 4.2 kills and 2.6 digs per set in leading the Soaring Eagles to 28 victories and their first Empire 8 tournament appearance since 2005. Senior middle hitter Brittany Raykoskie and sophomore opposite Taryn Rumsey each earned second-team all-conference honors last year. Rumsey averaged 2.3 kills and 2.9 digs per set in Empire 8 play to be named Rookie of the Year.
This season’s two conference weekends in which all conference matches will take place will be hosted by Elmira Sept. 24-25 and by St. John Fisher College Oct. 21-22. The championship tournament featuring the top four teams in regular season play will be hosted by the top seed with the semifinals on Saturday, Nov. 5 and the final on Sunday, Nov. 6.
The coaches chose Nazareth College to place fourth this season and earn the final spot in the conference tournament. Senior middle blocker Ashlee Travis was named to the all-conference first team a year ago. She hit .348 and averaged 2.1 kills and 1.0 blocks per set in conference play.
St. John Fisher College is the preseason choice to place fifth this year. Senior outside hitter Becca Smith received second-team all-conference honors last year after leading the Cardinals with 432 kills and 426 digs.
Hartwick College finished seventh in 2010 and is the coaches’ choice to move up to sixth this season. Alfred University and Utica College were picked seventh and eighth, respectively.
Last year’s round robin play was extremely and competitive and came down to a matchup between Ithaca and Stevens with the winner to earn the top seed in the Empire 8 Volleyball Championship. The Bombers won the match, knocking the Ducks to fifth place.
2011 Empire 8 Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Stevens Institute of Technology (6 first-place votes) 48 points
2. Ithaca College (1) 41
3. Elmira College (1) 37
4. Nazareth College 34
5. St. John Fisher College 25
6. Hartwick College 17
7. Alfred University 14
8. Utica College 8