CORTLAND, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) volleyball coaches voted New Paltz No. 1 in the 2019 conference preseason poll with 81 points. Geneseo came in at second with 72 points, while Brockport is third with 56 points.
New Paltz entered the 2018 SUNYAC championship as the No. 2 seed and defeated the top seeded Geneseo, 3-0, in the final match to clinch its third conference title, all under head coach Matt Giufre. Giufre was named the SUNYAC Coach of the Year for the sixth time in his 17 years with the Hawks. New Paltz went on to win the first round game in the NCAA tournament against Franklin & Marshall (3-0) and then lost to Johnson & Wales (RI), 3-0.
Geneseo finished the 2018 regular season ranked No. 1, but fell short of winning its first-ever SUNYAC women's volleyball title losing to New Paltz in the championship match. The 2018 SUNYAC Rookie of the Year, Maddie McLaughlin (East Aurora, N.Y.), returns for the Knights while head coach Hunter Drews enters her third year leading the program.
Brockport looks to get back to its winning streak after winning the SUNYAC crown three years in a row, 2015-17 all under current head coach Steve Pike. The Golden Eagles ended regular season play ranked third last season, but was upset in the first round by No. 6 Oswego, 3-2.
2019 Women's Volleyball Bracket
2019 SUNYAC Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. New Paltz, 81
2. Geneseo, 72
3. Brockport, 56
4. Fredonia, 55
5. Cortland, 51
6. Oswego, 45
7. Oneonta, 36
8. Potsdam, 26
9. Buffalo State, 14
Plattsburgh, 14