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SEASON OPENING MATCHES
Maine Maritime & Pine Manor at Southern Maine
Sunday, September 2 (12:00 p.m.)
At Hill Gymnasium Gorham, Maine
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Thursday, August 30, 2007
Courtesy of the Little East Conference
William M. Moore, Commissioner
Jack Holleran, Director of Communications
Office Phone: 401-456-1952
Keene State Owls Perched Atop Coaches' Preseason Poll
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Keene State College volleyball team has been
predicted as the preseason favorite to capture the Little East Conference
championship this season after a vote by the conference's eight head coaches.
The Owls earned four first-place votes and two second-place selections for 42
total points. Each head coach cast a vote, but could not select their team.
Keene State College Head Coach Bob Weiner has steadily watched the Owls
program rise through the Little East Conference ranks. Last fall, Weiner and his
young charges posted a breakout campaign establishing a program-high 25
victories and their first postseason bid since 1982. Keene State reached the
semifinal round in both the Little East Conference Tournament and the ECAC New
England Tournament. The Owls registered a decisive 3-0 victory over Rivier in
their first postseason appearance in 25 years to advance to the semifinals.
Keene State returns a pair of Little East All-Conference selections to the fold,
including first-team right side hitter Kelly Yankowski (Turners Fall, Mass.).
Eastern Connecticut State University has been the dominant squad in the
Little East Conference the past three seasons, registering two conference
championships in three appearances. A year ago, the Warriors reached the 30-win
barrier and posted a 7-0 mark in the conference circuit for just the second time
in the program's history. Head Coach Jolie Ward guided her squad to their sixth
straight conference tournament victory and second consecutive appearance in the
NCAA Tournament. 2006 Little East All-Conference, first-team selection Priscilla
Dougherty (Island Park, N.Y.) will set up Eastern Connecticut's traditionally
high-powered attack.
The Little East Conference continues its tradition of featuring highly-
competitive teams as Plymouth State University, Rhode Island College, and
Western Connecticut State University all share the No. 3 position with 32 total
points. The Anchorwomen and Colonials each received a first-place nod.
The University of Mass. Boston (25), the University of Mass. Dartmouth
(17), and the University of Southern Maine (7) close out the coaches' rankings.
The Little East Conference swings into its 10th season on Aug. 30, when six
conference members take to the court. The top six schools in the final regular
season standings qualify for the Little East Conference Tournament, beginning on
Oct. 30. The Little East Conference champion will be crowned on Nov. 3 and earn
the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
2007 Little East Conference Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Poll
Rk. Institution (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Keene State College (4) 42
2. Eastern Connecticut State University (2) 37
3. Rhode Island College (1) 32
Western Connecticut State University (1) 32
Plymouth State University 32
6. University of Massachusetts Boston 25
7. University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 17
8. University of Southern Maine 7
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Friday, August 24, 2007
Stoll, Netland Tabbed USM Volleyball Captains
GORHAM, Maine -- Junior outside hitter Shannon Stoll (Shrewsbury,
Mass./Shrewsbury) and sophomore outside hitter/setter Danielle Netland
(Cumberland, Maine/Greely) have been named co-captains of the 2007 University of
Southern Maine Huskies women's volleyball team. Second-year head coach Barry
Tripp made the announcement during the Huskies' first week of preseason
training.
"Shannon and Danielle provide us with excellent leadership on and off of
the court," commented Tripp. "Shannon has been one of our top players in her
first two seasons and I look forward to her continued improvement and
contributions on the court. If she maintains her work ethic and intensity, she
will have a shot at establishing several program records. In her second season,
Danielle has stepped into a leadership role. Her commitment to the team and to
her individual skill growth is fantastic."
Last season as a freshman, Netland finished with 89 kills, 46 service aces
and was second on the team in assists totaling 223. Her 223 assists ranks 12th
in USM single season records.
In her sophomore campaign, Stoll led the team in kills (319), service aces
(112) and total blocks (68), and was second on the team in digs (246).
Currently, Stoll is 12th in career digs with 495 and fifth in career kills with
565.
The Huskies open the 2007 season at home on Sunday, September 2, (12:00
p.m.) hosting Maine Maritime Academy and Pine Manor College in a tri-match. A
pair of away dates follow with a match at St. Joseph's College (Sept. 4, 7:00
p.m.) and the Colby College Invitational (Sept. 7-8, tba).
USM returns home to play three consecutive home matches against the
University of New England (Sept. 11, 6:00 p.m.), Thomas College (Sept. 16, 2:00
p.m.) and Bates College (Sept. 18, 6:00 p.m.). The remainder of September the
Huskies will be on the road, including a trip Western Connecticut State
University for their first Little East Conference matches against the host
Colonials and Plymouth State University (Sept. 22, 12:00 p.m.), a match at
Thomas College (Sept. 26, 7:00 p.m.) and a trip to Lewiston, Maine, for the
Bates College Invitational (Sept. 28-29, tba).
Southern Maine plays four straight road dates to open October, including a
match at LEC foe, the University of Massachusetts Boston (Oct. 2, 6:00 p.m.),
followed by the UMaine Farmington Invitational (Oct. 5-6, 6:00 p.m./9:00 a.m.),
a trip to Husson College (Oct. 9, 6:00 p.m.) and the Smith College Invitational
(Oct. 12-13, tba).
USM hosts UMaine Farmington (Oct. 17, 7:00 p.m.) before traveling for its
next three dates of competition. USM will be at Rhode Island College for LEC
matches against RIC and Keene State College (Oct. 20, 11:00 a.m.) before
returning to Maine for contests at the University of New England (Oct. 22, 6:00
p.m.) and Colby College (Oct. 24, 7:00 p.m.). The Huskies close the regular
season hosting the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Eastern Connecticut
State University for a pair of LEC matches (Oct. 27, 12:00 p.m.).
The top six teams in the conference at the end of regular season play
qualify for the Little East Conference Championship. First round matches (6 vs.
3, 5 vs. 4) will be played October 30. The semifinal and championship matches
will be played November 2-3 at the tournament's top seed. The winner of the
tournament receives an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III National
Championship.
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