Manhattan Welcomes 10 Newcomers In 2009
RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Manhattan College volleyball team was picked to finish ninth in the Metro
Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in 2009 according to the MAAC Preseason Poll, which was
announced by the conference office on Tuesday afternoon. Siena and Fairfield, the squads that
have met in each of the last four MAAC Championship matches, were tabbed as preseason cofavorites.
Siena’s Burgandy McCurty, the twotime defending MAAC Offensive Player of the Year,
was chosen as the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year.
Siena and Fairfield each received 93 points in the poll of the league’s 10 head coaches. Canisius
and Iona, the teams that joined them in last season’s MAAC Volleyball Championships, tied for
third with 72 points apiece. Marist rounded out the top half of the poll with 65 points, followed by
Niagara (40), Loyola (37) and Saint Peter’s (31). The Lady Jaspers collected 28 points in the poll,
while Rider earned 19 points.
The Lady Jaspers return four letterwinners, including three starters, from last season’s squad that
went 11-17 overall and 10-8 in MAAC play. Manhattan also welcomes three transfers and seven
freshmen in Mark Jones’ first season as head coach.
Manhattan opens the 2009 campaign with a showdown against Army at Draddy Gymnasium on
Sept. 1. The Lady Jaspers kick off MAAC play on Sept. 19, when Rider visits Riverdale. The top
four teams after the 18-match MAAC schedule qualify for the MAAC Volleyball Championships in
Buffalo, N.Y., on Nov. 21-22.
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