COLONIA, N.J. – The seven head volleyball coaches of the East Coast Conference have predicted a fourth straight conference title for Daemen as the Wildcats took the top spot in the 2024 ECC Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll announced on Friday afternoon. In the same vote, Molloy graduate student outside hitter Kiarra Roth (Bohemia, N.Y.) was selected the Preseason Player of the Year.
Coming off a 2023 campaign in which the Wildcats finished 26-6 overall, went an undefeated 12-0 in the ECC, claimed the ECC regular-season and tournament titles, and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament, Daemen received four of seven first-place votes to top the poll with 45 points. Daemen has gone undefeated in ECC regular-season play the last three seasons and has won 35 consecutive regular-season conference matches dating back to the end of 2019. The Wildcats have participated in the NCAA Division II Tournament five of the last seven years and claimed the NCAA Tournament East Region title in 2021.
Guiding the pack will be All-ECC First Team graduate student returners Jasmine Brundage, last year's ECC Libero of the Year, and Giselle Giraud. With the departure of the 2023 tournament's Most Outstanding Player Maggie Burns, the 'Cats will rely on a mix of returning experience and new talent to make a run at their fourth consecutive ECC crown and sixth ECC final in the last eight years.
Mercy takes the No. 2 spot in the preseason poll with two first-place votes and 40 points. With the departure of 2023 ECC Player of the Year Larissa Schneid and 2023 Setter of the Year Yarianne Gonzalez, all eyes will be on All-ECC Second Team selection Julia Pomerleau and 2022 All-ECC Honorable Mention Anyelainy Vizcaino to lead the pack in 2024. The Mavs have reached the ECC title game seven times in program history, and will look to make their first appearance since 2005.
Landing in the third spot with one first-place vote and 36 points, Molloy has advanced to the last six ECC Women's Volleyball Championships and twice won the tournament in that span, in 2017 and 2019. Under the direction of reigning ECC Coach of the Year Brian Smith and Roth, the Lions will look to appear in their third consecutive title game on Saturday, November 23. With the graduation of All-ECC First Teamer Chye Davis, Colleen Moulder, and Madison Wakely, Molloy will also expect a bigger season from Sara Hiebert in the middle, paired with a number of newcomers in the mix.
A two-time All-ECC First Team selection, Roth is coming off of a season in which she earned AVCA All-East Honorable Mention recognition after totaling 363 kills, 32 assists, 19 aces, 278 digs, and 59 blocks in 28 contests. Roth recorded 22 games with double-digit kills, including a stretch of 10 straight contests to end the season, and put up 10 double-doubles on the year.
Queens is the final expected playoff team with 26 points and a fourth-place nod. The All-ECC Second Team trio of Despina Boudouris, Kendall Conrad, and Christina Franco will lead an experienced group of nine returners this fall.
2024 ECC Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. Daemen (45 points, 4 first-place votes)
2023 Record – 26-6, 12-0 ECC
2. Mercy (40 points, 2 first-place votes)
2023 Record – 15-9, 7-5 ECC
3. Molloy (36 points, 1 first-place vote)
2023 Record – 14-14, 8-4 ECC
4. Queens (26 points)
2023 Record – 13-11, 7-5 ECC
5. St. Thomas Aquinas (20 points)
2023 Record – 5-15, 1-11 ECC
6. D'Youville (19 points)
2023 Record – 7-18, 3-9 ECC
7. Roberts Wesleyan (10 points)
2023 Record – 8-14, 4-8 ECC
2024 ECC Preseason Player of the Year: Kiarra Roth, Gr., OH, Molloy