MASCAC Releases Four Preseason Polls
A first-place finish for the Worcester State University women's volleyball team highlighted the announcement of four Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Polls this week.
Full MASCAC Releases:
Women's Volleyball
Men's Soccer
Women's Soccer
Men's Golf
WESTFIELD, Mass. - A first-place finish for the Worcester State University women's volleyball team highlighted the announcement of four Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Polls this week.
The Lancers women's volleyball team narrowly grabbed the top spot in the poll, with 44 points and three first place votes, edging out second place Framingham State, who finished with 43 points and four first place votes. The Lancers will seek a three-peat in 2019, returning senior captains Stephanie Chapin (Hampden, Mass.) and Marissa Proia (Framingham, Mass.).
After qualifying for the MASCAC Semifinals a season ago, the men's soccer team is projected to return to the second round after a fourth place finish in the poll. Bridgewater State took the top spot in the poll, narrowly ahead of Framingham State and Salem State. Worcester State will return senior goalkeeper Henri Guilmette (Franklin, Mass.) this season, who ranked in the top three in the MASCAC in saves, save percentage, and goals against average a year ago.
Despite losing just one MASCAC regular season game since 2014, the Worcester State women's soccer team fell just short of the top spot in the preseason poll, finishing in second behind Westfield State. The Lancers grabbed two first-place votes to finish with 42 points, but were edged out by the Owls with four first-place votes and 50 points. The final two first-place votes went to Bridgewater State, who finished third at 41 points. The Lancers return each of their three leading scorers from 2018 in juniors Ali Maldonado (Rutland, Mass.), Talia Borci (Worcester, Mass.), and Maddie Fong (Norton, Mass.).
The final MASCAC Preseason Poll announced was for men's golf, where the Lancers finished in fifth place. New associate member Springfield College was chosen to take home the MASCAC title, grabbing the top spot with 58 points and six first-place votes. Westfield State finished second with 50 points and one first-place vote, followed closely by third place Salem State with a pair of first-place votes and 48 points. Elms College was selected in fourth place at 46 points. The Lancers return nearly its entire roster from a season ago, and will be led by 2018 GNAC Rookie of the Year Brodie Coughlin (North Brookfield, Mass.).
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