WINTHROP, Mass. – The Lasell University women's volleyball team has been voted to finish fifth out of 14 schools in the 2021 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the GNAC office on Wednesday afternoon.
Seeking its sixth consecutive league title this fall, Johnson & Wales University took home all 14 first-place votes as the unanimous frontrunner atop the poll, as voted upon by the league's head coaches. Longtime GNAC powerhouse Rivier University finished second in the poll with 177 points, followed by Simmons University with 166 points.
Led by second-year head coach Jeff Vautrin, the Lasers will be making their debut under Vautrin after the 2020 season was wiped out by the pandemic. Lasell will play the first two of its 28 regular season matches at home in the Athletic Center, hosting WPI and Curry College on September 7 and 9, respectively. The first of 13 GNAC matches is slated for Saturday, September 25, at home against conference newcomer Elms College.
The Lasers return seven veterans with collegiate experience, along with a strong group of newcomers who will be looking to make an impact. Among the key returnees are senior Kiana Perez Diaz (Juncos, P.R.), a two-time All-GNAC selection and the 2018 GNAC Rookie of the Year, and classmates Jess Langan (Burnt Hills, N.Y.), Meg Roberts (Newington, Conn.), and Corina Lombardi (York, Maine).
Rivier has captured six GNAC titles in program history, most recently in 2014, while Simmons advanced to the GNAC title match against JWU in 2017 and made the conference semifinals in 2018.
Making up the rest of the top-10 in the poll were Norwich University (137 points), Lasell (136), Colby-Sawyer College (113), Regis College (111), Saint Joseph's College of Maine (109), Emmanuel College (80), and newest full core member Elms College (76).
The 2021 GNAC Tournament will take place November 2, 4, and 6 (Tues-Thurs-Sat) with the league champion receiving an automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament.
2021 GNAC Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. Johnson & Wales (14) - 196
2. Rivier - 177
3. Simmons - 166
4. Norwich - 137
5. Lasell - 136
6. Colby-Sawyer - 113
7. Regis - 111
8. Saint Joseph's Maine - 109
9. Emmanuel - 80
10. Elms - 76
11. USJ - 66
12. Albertus Magnus - 48
13. Dean - 28
14. Anna Maria - 27
(Courtesy of the GNAC Office)
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