United Volleyball Conference | 1/9/2020 9:32:10 AM

The defending United Volleyball Conference (UVC) and 2019 NCAA Division III National Champions, SUNY New Paltz Hawks top the 2020 UVC Preseason Coaches Poll, released on Thursday, Jan. 9. The poll was voted on by all nine UVC head coaches.

SUNY New Paltz earned 64 points in the preseason poll and received eight of the nine first-place votes. The Hawks, who knocked off Stevens in the 2019 UVC title match before going on to win the national title, enter 2020 having won 10 straight games. SUNY New Paltz opens the 2020 season in the Dominican Republic on Jan. 11-12 before taking on Stevenson and Benedictine at The Clash at Kean Tournament on Jan. 18-19. SUNY New Paltz is looking for their third NCAA title in the last four years. The Hawks are also the top-ranked team in the 2020 NVA/AVCA Division III Preseason National Coaches Poll, which was released on Jan. 6.

NYU earned the other first place vote and earned 54 total points as they are picked to finish second in the 2020 league standings. The Violets, who are also ranked No. 13 in the NVA/AVCA Preseason Poll, posted a 13-11 overall record in 2019, while advancing to the UVC Semifinals.
 
St. John Fisher is picked to finish third in the 2020 UVC Preseason poll with 48 points after finishing 20-11 and advancing to the UVC Semifinals in 2019. Vassar earned 44 points and is projected to finish fourth in the UVC Preseason poll, while MIT is picked to finish fifth, having earned 37 points. All three programs are receiving votes in the NVA/AVCA Division III National Preseason Poll.

Elmira and Nazareth both received 27 points to tie for sixth in the preseason poll voting. Sage (15) and Bard (8) round out the 2020 UVC Preseason Poll.
 
The 2020 UVC Championship will take place from April 9-11 at the site of the regular season champion.
 
2020 UVC Preseason Poll – Points (First Place Votes)
1. New Paltz – 64 points (8)
2. New York University – 54 points (1)
3. St. John Fisher – 48 points
4. Vassar – 44 points
5. MIT – 37 points
6. Elmira – 27 points
6. Nazareth – 27 points
8. Sage – 15 points
9. Bard – 8 points
 
ABOUT THE UNITED VOLLEYBALL CONFERENCE
The members of the United Volleyball Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. For more on the UVC visit www.theuvc.org