PITMAN--After capturing its seventh consecutive NJAC title in 2014 and its eighth conference crown in the past nine seasons, Stockton University has been selected as the 2014 preseason women’s volleyball favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Ospreys, who received all nine first-place votes cast by the league coaches, will be seeking their 12th conference title since 1996.

The 2014 Ospreys finished 28-7 overall and claimed the NJAC regular season championship with a conference record of 7-1. Stockton proceeded to claim the NJAC Tournament Championship with victories over Ramapo and Rowan to extend the program’s NJAC Tournament winning-streak to 14 consecutive matches.
Now in her 10th season at the helm of the Stockton program, Allison Walker has guided the Ospreys to an overall record of 236-85 and seven NJAC championships. Stockton returns a league-high four all-league performers from its 2014 NJAC championship squad, including junior opposite side hitter Lindsey Schuele, junior middle hitter Idi Uffen, senior setter Shannon Clark, and the reigning NJAC Player of the Year in senior middle hitter Macy Schwartz. 

Rowan University, which finished as the 2014 NJAC runner-up, was selected to again place second. The 2014 Profs also placed second in the NJAC regular season race with a 6-2 record in league play. Led by the 2014 NJAC Coach of the Year in Deana Jespersen, Rowan produced a 16-16 overall record in her first year in Glassboro, improving Jespersen’s career collegiate coaching record to 200-191. The Profs return a pair of all-conference players from their 2014 NJAC runner-up team in senior outside hitter Danielle Havlicek and junior libero Jennifer Vorel. 

Ramapo College, which advanced to the championship match of the 2014 ECAC Metro/Upstate Tournament, was selected to place third. The 2014 Roadrunners posted a 26-10 record overall and finished fourth in the NJAC regular season race with a 6-2 conference mark. Now in his 11th season at the helm of the Ramapo program, head coach Robert Pichardo has guided the Roadrunners to a 200-114 overall record, while his career collegiate coaching record stands at 300-158. Ramapo returns a trio of all-conference players from its 2014 ECAC runner-up squad, including junior middle blocker Emily Guzman, senior setter Kaitlin Mc Iver, and the 2014 NJAC Rookie of the Year in sophomore outside hitter Larysa Iwaskiw.

The coaches’ dark horse selection for the third consecutive season, Montclair State University was selected to place fourth. The 2014 Red Hawks finished fifth in the NJAC regular season race with a 5-3 league mark en route to a 23-11 record overall. Led by fifth-year head coach Eddie Stawinski, the Red Hawks have accumulated an overall record of 76-52 during his tenure at MSU. Montclair returns a pair of all-league performers from its 2014 squad in junior outside hitter Courtney Matlock and junior outside hitter Melissa Terpstra.

Kean University, which earned a third place finish in the 2014 NJAC regular season race with a 6-2 league record, was selected to place fifth. Seventh-year head coach Don Perkins has guided the Cougars to an overall mark of 111-96, including a record of 17-18 in 2014. Kean returns one all-conference performer from the 2014 season in senior outside hitter Kassie Hernandez.

Rutgers University-Newark, which advanced to the semifinals of the 2014 ECAC Metro/Upstate Tournament, was selected to place sixth. Led by fourth-year head coach Jason Madsen, the Scarlet Raiders have produced an overall record of 40-41 during his tenure, including a mark of 17-12 in 2014. Rutgers-Newark returns a pair of all-conference players from its 2014 ECAC semifinalist squad, including senior middle blocker Sharee Gordon and the reigning NJAC Defensive Player of the Year in sophomore libero Sue Riley. 

William Paterson University, under the direction of 37th-year head coach Sandy Ferrarella, was selected to place seventh. Ferrarella is the longest tenured NJAC women’s volleyball coach and the second longest tenured NJAC coach in any sport behind only her departmental colleague Ed Gurka, the head women’s and men’s swimming & diving coach at William Paterson. Ferrarella has led the Pioneers to an overall record of 629-375 during her career, including a mark of 18-10 in 2014.

Rutgers University-Camden, which will be led by new first-year head coach David Gurst, was selected to place eighth. Gurst inherits a Scarlet Raptors squad that finished 5-26 overall in 2014. 

New Jersey City University, under the direction of second-year head coach Robert Cole, was selected to place ninth. The Gothic Knights posted an 8-25 overall record during Cole’s rookie season of 2014.  

The 34th season of NJAC women’s volleyball will get under way on Tuesday, September 1 with six NJAC teams in non-conference action. Conference play will begin just 14 days later with the first league matches scheduled for Tuesday, September 15.

The top six regular season finishers will advance to the 2015 NJAC Championship Tournament which will begin with first round action on Tuesday, November 3. The NJAC Tournament semifinals will be conducted on Thursday, November 5, and the league championship match will be played at the site of the highest remaining seed on Saturday, November 7. The winner of the NJAC Tournament receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.

2015 NJAC Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Stockton (9)

2. Rowan

3. Ramapo

4. Montclair State (dark horse)

5. Kean

6. Rutgers-Newark

7. William Paterson

8. Rutgers-Camden

9. New Jersey City

First Place Votes In Parentheses