Winthrop, Mass. – The Albertus Magnus College men's volleyball team was picked to finish eighth in the 2016 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Preseason Poll. The poll, which was released Friday morning, is voted on by the league's head coaches.
The Falcons earned 10 points to finish just five points back of Mount Ida for seventh. Lasell received five of a possible eight first-place votes for 55 points to land in the top spot of the poll. Wentworth, who received two first-place votes, finished one point behind the Lasers to sit in second. Rivier got the other first-place vote and finished in third with 51 points.
Rounding out the top-five were Johnson & Wales in fourth and Emmanuel in fifth with 46 and 33 points, respectively.
Making up the remainder of the poll were Emerson with 24 points, the Mustangs with 15 points and the Falcons with 10 points.
Albertus Magnus is coming off a 3-15 campaign last year, which featured a pair of conference wins. Three of the team's top-four offensive threats return this winter as does the squad's top setter. The Falcons look to continue on the late season success from 2015 with a versatile and deep core of veteran returners.
Albertus Magnus opens the season on Thursday, January 28, with a home conference clash against Wentworth at 7:00 pm at The Nest inside the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletic Center.
Founded in 1995, the GNAC is an NCAA Division III association made up of 12 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Each year, the GNAC sponsors and administers 17 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunities and community involvement.
For the latest information on the men's volleyball team and Albertus Magnus athletics, follow AMCAthletics on Twitter and visit AlbertusFalcons.com.
2016 GNAC Mens Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Lasell (5) – 55
2. Wentworth - (2) – 54
3. Rivier (1) – 51
4. Johnson & Wales – 46
5. Emmanuel – 33
6. Emerson – 24
7. Mount Ida – 15
8. Albertus Magnus – 10
