Centennial Conference Preseason Poll

Centennial Conference Preseason Guide

HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College volleyball team was tabbed sixth in the 2018 Centennial Conference preseason poll, the conference office announced in a release on Monday afternoon. The annual preseason poll was decided solely by a vote of the conference's head coaches and coaches were not allowed to vote for their own programs.

Haverford received a total of 52 voting points. Johns Hopkins was picked to repeat the conference championship with nine of the 11 first-place votes, while Swarthmore, an NCAA Elite Eight team a season ago, received 84 total points and a first place vote. Muhlenberg was picked third (79 points), and Franklin & Marshall was picked fourth, receiving a first-place vote with 75 total voting points. McDaniel was selected fifth (67 points).

Finishing seventh through 11th in the poll were the teams from Gettysburg (51 points), Dickinson (37 points), Washington College (32 points), Ursinus (19 points) and Bryn Mawr (10 points), respectively. 

Last season, the Fords finished outside of the playoff picture (16-13, 5-5 CC) for the just the second time in 18 seasons and will look to make an immediate return to postseason play behind a roster full of depth, with a large crop of newcomers joining the fold for the 2018 campaign.

Haverford must replace the production of First-team All-Centennial Conference setter Zoe Wong, and will rely on the leadership of co-captains senior Natalie Pisch (3.54 kills per set) and junior Sara Matsumura (5.23 digs per set). Each picked up honorable mention all-conference designation a season ago and will look to take another step forward with an eye towards leading the Fords back to November volleyball.

The Fords open up the season on Saturday at the annual Haverford Invitational, hosting Farmingdale State and Hunter on Saturday, September 1 before returning on Sunday, September 2 for matchups with Wheaton (Mass.) and Arcadia.