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 Siena a co-Favorite in MAAC Preseason Volleyball Poll
Aug. 11, 2009
Siena and Fairfield share the top spot on the 2009 MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The two programs have met in the last four MAAC Championship matches with Siena winning the title all four years. Siena middle blocker Burgandy McCurty - the reigning two-time MAAC Offensive Player of the Year - has been named MAAC Preseason Player of the Year. The Saints and Stags each had 93 points in the poll. Canisius College and Iona College tied for third place with 72 points, while fifth place Marist College totaled 65. Niagara University placed sixth with 40 points followed by Loyola College (37), Saint Peter's College (31), Manhattan College (28), and Rider University (19). Siena will be looking to replace a senior class that included 2008 MAAC Setter of the Year April London, the school's all-time leader in career assists, and the program's all-time digs leader Kathi Kobayashi. Three of the top four finishers on the Saints' kills chart last season are also gone. Still, Siena returns McCurty, and fellow co-captain Kau'i Robello along with red-shirt sophomore Aubrey Bobo, her twin sister Brianne Bobo and juniors Blair Atkins, Aimee Gosse and Brittany Linetelman. Pierre and the Saints also welcome nine freshmen. McCurty (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) could graduate as the best volleyball player in conference history. She needs fewer than 100 kills to eclipse Siena's all-time career mark which shouldn't take her long if she continues at her career 3.94 kills/set clip. McCurty was named MAAC Offensive Player of the Week seven times as a junior and ECAC Player of the Week twice. She finished the season ranked fifth nationally with 4.71 kills/set.
The Saints open their season in the Big Orange Invitational hosted by Syracuse on august 28 against Sacramento State. The MAAC Championships will be contested on the campus of Canisius College this season November 21 and 22. |
