SHU picked to win 4th straight NEC volleyball title

The Sacred Heart women’s volleyball team, winners of the past three conference championships, has been selected by coaches to once again win the Northeast Conference.

The Pioneers were unanimous picks to win the NEC crown.

“Coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance and adding some excellent athletes to a solid core of returners, I think being picked number one is deserved,” Sacred Heart coach Rob Machan said in a release. “But we still need to earn it on the court. We always expect our opponents to give us their best effort and we will continue to work and embrace the challenge.”

Sarah Ciszek, a four-time NEC Setter of the Year, returns for the Pioneers, along with all-conference selections Reghan Palanchi, Dominique Felix and Emma Smallcomb.

Sacred Heart opens the season agaon NCAA Tournament qualifier South Carolina on August 26 in the first game of the Carolina Classic. Sacred Heart opens NEC play against LIU, selected second in the poll, at the Pitt Center on September 23.

FAIRFIELD PICKED TO WIN NEC

The Fairfield University field hockey team was chosen as the preseason favorite in the NEC preseason coaches poll. The Stags were the unanimous pick for the top spot.

Fairfield, which won the NEC regular season last year with a 7-0 record before sweeping the tournament title with a pair of wins, return two All-NEC first team selections in Julianna Kratz and Emily Kness. Kratz is the team’s top returning scorer with seven goals and three assists during the 2021 season, while Kness leads a defense that helped the Stags post eight shutouts and allow 1.19 goals per game last season.

Fairfield opens the season on the road at Monmouth (Aug. 26) at and Villanova (Aug.) 28. The Stags play their home opener on Sept. 2 against Holy Cross. Fairfield’s NEC opener is at Sacred Heart Sept. 30.

The Pioneers were picked sixth.

NEC Field Hockey Poll

1. Fairfield (unanimous)

2. Wagner

3. Rider

4. LIU

5. Saint Francis U

6. Sacred Heart

7. Merrimack

8. Stonehill

NEW HAVEN SECOND IN NE-10 POLL

The New Haven women’s volleyball team, coming off of its 35th trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2021, has been picked to finish second in the Northeast-10 Conference in a poll of the league’s 13 head coaches. New Haven earned one first-place vote. Southern Connecticut was picked sixth in the poll.

UNH is led by sophomore setter Sophia Leon Tabor who closed out her rookie season with 1,298 assists, second most in the NE10. In addition, Leon Tabor was a defensive leader, wrapping up the year with 303 digs. At the net, the Chargers will look to sophomore Macy Brown who finished third on the team with 400 kills a year ago as a leading returner.

NE10 Women’s Volleyball Preseason Poll

1. American International — 143 (11)

2. New Haven — 125 (1)

3. Bentley — 118 (1)

4. Saint Anselm — 112

5. Adelphi — 95

6. Southern Connecticut — 94

7. Southern New Hampshire — 83

8. Franklin Pierce — 66

9. Le Moyne — 45

9. Assumption — 45

11. Saint Rose — 39

12. Pace — 34

13. Saint Michael’s — 12