PITMAN--After capturing the 2009 NJAC Championship en route to a 27-12 overall record, Richard Stockton College  was selected as the 2010 preseason women’s volleyball favorite in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Ospreys will be seeking their third consecutive NJAC championship and their seventh conference crown since 1996.

Led by fifth-year head coach Allison Walker, Stockton was selected to finish first on seven-of-the-nine ballots cast by the league head coaches. In 2009, the Ospreys posted a 7-1 conference record for a second place finish in the NJAC regular season before capturing their second consecutive NJAC title with conference tournament victories over Ramapo and Montclair State. Under the leadership of Walker, Stockton has produced a 99-48 overall record, including NJAC Championships in 2006, 2008, and 2009. The Ospreys return a league-high four all-conference players from their 2009 NJAC Championship team including junior outside hitter Christine Velott, sophomore middle hitter Stephanie Warner, junior setter Laura Hausman, and senior libero Christine Astarita.

Ramapo College, which advanced to the semifinals of the 2009 ECAC Metro/Upstate Tournament en route to a 25-11 overall record, was selected to place second and received two first place votes. The Roadrunners placed third in the 2009 NJAC race with a 6-2 league mark. Under the direction of sixth-year head coach Robert Pichardo, Ramapo has accumulated a 92-60 overall record, improving Pichardo’s career collegiate coaching record to 192-104. The Roadrunners return a pair of all-league players from their 2009 ECAC squad including junior setter Tiffany Fischer and junior libero Elizabeth Steck.

Rowan University, which posted a 13-17 overall record in 2009, was selected to place third. Now in her second stint as head coach of the Profs, head coach Libby Ranero has produced an 87-132 overall record in eight seasons at Rowan. The Profs return the reigning NJAC Rookie of the Year in sophomore outside hitter Katie Havlicek.

Montclair State University, which captured the 2009 regular season championship with a perfect 8-0 conference record, was selected to place fourth. Led by the 2009 NJAC Coach of the Year in Elise Cooper, the Red Hawks have notched a 52-46 overall record during her tenure, including a mark of 14-16 in 2009.

Rutgers University-Camden, which earned its first NJAC Tournament berth in program history in 2009 en route to an 11-14 overall record, was selected to finish fifth and was tapped as the coaches’ dark horse selection. Third-year head coach Mat Ogin has guided the Scarlet Raptors to an overall record of 19-28 during his tenure. Camden returns one all-conference player from its 2009 squad in junior outside hitter Katherine Crosby.

William Paterson University, which notched a 21-8 overall record in 2009, was selected to place sixth. Sandy Ferrarella, the longest-tenured NJAC women’s volleyball coach, will enter her 32nd season with a career record of 539-331. The Pioneers return one all-conference player from their 2009 squad in junior outside hitter Megan Maher. 

Kean University, which tallied an 11-15 overall record in 2009 under rookie head coach Don Perkins, was selected to place seventh. 

New Jersey City University, which posted a 7-17 overall record in 2009 under rookie head coach Nicole Tallarida, was selected to place eighth. The Gothic Knights return one all-conference player from their 2009 team in junior outside hitter Tabitha Jordan.

Rutgers-Newark, led by fourth-year head coach Karl France, was selected to finish ninth. The Scarlet Raiders posted a 4-26 overall record in 2009.

The 29th season of NJAC women’s volleyball will get under way on Wednesday, September 1 with Kean, Montclair State, Rutgers-Camden, and Rutgers-Newark in non-conference action. Conference play will begin two weeks later on Wednesday, September 15 when Rowan hosts Richard Stockton in the first NJAC match of the season. The top six regular season finishers will advance to the NJAC Championship Tournament which will begin with first round action on Tuesday, November 2. The NJAC Tournament semifinals will be conducted on Thursday, November 4, and the league championship match will be played at the site of the highest remaining seed on Saturday, November 6. The winner of the NJAC Tournament receives the conference’s automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.