Little East announces preseason women’s volleyball poll

Panthers picked to place third in 2011 

            PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The Little East Conference preseason women’s volleyball coaches’ poll has been announced and Plymouth State University is picked to finish third in this year’s race.  The votes were cast by the conference’s eight head coaches.

            The Panthers were voted third this fall after placing fourth in the poll the last two years.  Two-time defending LEC regular season and tournament champion University of Massachusetts Boston was the top pick in the poll, receiving all eight first-place votes. Keene State College was runner-up in the poll, with PSU and Western Connecticut State University rounding out the top half.  The bottom half includes, in order, Eastern Connecticut State University, Rhode Island College, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and the University of Southern Maine.

            Plymouth State graduated only one senior from last year’s squad, returning every starter in the line-up.  The difference this year will be the arrival of new head coach Chris Kilmer, who returns to coach at his alma mater after six years at Saint Michael’s College, including the last three as head coach.

            PSU is coming off a 19-14 season in 2010, placing third in the LEC with a 5-2 mark.  The Panthers made their ninth straight post-season appearance, advancing to the ECAC New England Tournament semifinals.

            The LEC volleyball regular season schedule includes one match against the other seven schools.  The conference tournament is the first week in November, with the LEC champion receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

2011 LEC Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll

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