- Rams Slated in 4th after their 2011 Semifinal Appearance -
NEW YORK, N.Y. – After finishing 14-8 and making their way to the conference semifinals in 2011, the Farmingdale State women's volleyball team was slotted to finish in fourth place in the Skyline Preseason Coaches Poll. Mount Saint Mary is the choice to capture the 2012 Skyline women's volleyball title in voting conducted by the league's ten head coaches.
The Rams return three starters from the starting lineup last season, including senior outside Holly Sahner (Dix Hills, N.Y.), sophomore setter Sarah Palladino (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) and sophomore middle blocker Nicole Wenke (North Babylon, N.Y.). Sahner and Palladino garnered First Team All-Skyline honors in 2011 and will look to make another appearance in the conference tournament.
The Knights received seven first-place votes and 79 points overall, while St. Joseph's-L.I. earned three first-place votes and finished second in the voting with 70 points. Three-time defending Skyline champion NYU-Poly placed third with 63 points, followed by Farmingdale State (54), The Sage Colleges (52), Old Westbury (44), Mount Saint Vincent (37), Purchase (27), Maritime (18) and Yeshiva (9).
MSMC claimed the Skyline regular season crown a year ago with a perfect 9-0 mark in league action and will led in 2012 by senior Lauren Halverson. A first-team All-Conference selection, Halverson established a program record for assists with 927 and added a team-high 64 aces.
The opening round of the six-team Skyline Women's Volleyball Championship will be held on
Wednesday, Oct. 31, with the semifinals and title match slated for Saturday, Nov. 3.
2012 Skyline Preseason Coaches Poll - Points
1. Mount Saint Mary - 79 [7]
2. St. Joseph's-L.I. - 70 [3]
3. NYU-Poly - 63
4. Farmingdale State - 54
5. The Sage Colleges - 52
6. Old Westbury - 44
7. Mount Saint Vincent - 37
8. Purchase - 27
9. Maritime - 18
10. Yeshiva - 9
[First-place votes in parentheses]
* 450 Seventh Ave., Suite 506, New York, NY 10123 *