NEWTON, Mass. – Lasell University was chosen fourth in the 2020 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Men's Volleyball Preseason Poll as announced Tuesday afternoon.
Rivier University took home all eight first-place votes for the maximum 64 points to lead the way in the 2020 GNAC Men's Volleyball Preseason Poll. The Raiders won the GNAC's first seven team titles from 2008-14, before a three-year dry spell.
Wentworth Institute of Technology took the second spot in the poll with 55 points. WIT won back-to-back GNAC titles in 2016-17 and advanced to the 2017 NCAA D3 semifinals.
Johnson & Wales University (RI) finished third in the poll, as voted upon by the league's head coaches, with 46 points. Rounding out the top-five were Lasell University with 41 points and Emmanuel College with 32 points.
Regis College took the sixth spot (21 points), followed by Emerson College (17) and Colby-Sawyer College (12).
The Lasers look to begin a new culture under first-year head coach Jeff Vautrin. Vautrin is a 2017 Lasell alum who played three seasons with the Lasers and was selected GNAC all conference in two of his three seasons as well as recording the second most kills in school history in just three seasons. Vautrin was also a part of the GNAC championship team in 2015.
The Lasers will play in their season opener this Friday, January 17 in the Cougar Kick-Off Classic at Misericordia in Dallas, PA. The first home match will be February 12 against Elms College, and the first GNAC competition will be a tri-match on February 16, against Regis College and Rivier University.
The Lasers will have to overcome the loss of reigning GNAC Defensive Player of the Year and school record holder Jordan Aprea, but will return a good portion of their offensive attack between Scott Sterenberg (Oceanside, N.Y.), and Aaron Waitekus (Norwood, Mass.).
The top-six seeds will qualify for the GNAC Tournament in just under three months, with the top-two teams receiving first-round byes. The conference playoff dates are set for Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday, April 7, 9, 11.
2020 GNAC Men's Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. Rivier (8) - 64
2. Wentworth - 55
3. Johnson & Wales - 46
4. Lasell - 41
5. Emmanuel - 32
6. Regis - 21
7. Emerson - 17
8. Colby-Sawyer - 12
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