Rivier Takes Top Seed in 2012 Men's Volleyball Pre-season Poll

Rivier College leads the 2012 pre-season poll for men’s volleyball for the second consecutive year. The Raiders are the reigning 2010 and 2011 GNAC Champions, which sent them to the first round of the NCAA tournament. Coming in a close second is the Emmanuel College Saints, trailing the Raiders by two points.

Rounding out the top four teams that are predicted to make it to the GNAC Playoffs are Lasell College (24) and Johnson & Wales (23).

1. Rivier College (34)

Rivier College returns to the top of the rankings as number one to continue its dominant performance in the GNAC and to defend their title. The Raiders finished the 2011 season with a 33-9 record, ranking them within the top 10 in the Nation (9th). Although losing an all-conference selection, Jared Andreozzi, to graduation, Rivier will look to their four seniors to provide leadership and strength on the court. The Raiders return three all-conference selections to lead them to another GNAC Championship including, senior middle/outside hitter Alex Xenidis, junior setter Steve Visentin and sophomore, middle hitter Aaron Almario. Rivier will have ten underclassmen to provide great depth to their roster to claim at another GNAC title. 

2. Emmanuel College (32)

The Saints are coming off the best season in program history and return seven veterans from last year's record-setting team. The 2011 Saints boasted a 28-win campaign, which featured an 11-1 record among Great Northeast Athletic Conference opponents, and a trip to the 2nd round of the North East Collegiate Volleyball Association Tournament. Emmanuel College received its highest-ever preseason ranking on January 11th, when the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) ranked the Saints 12th nationally heading into the 2012 season.

3. Lasell College (24)

Lasell College enter the season ranked 3rd in the GNAC pre-season poll, however the Lasers finished 2011 taking 2nd place in the Championship and making their way to the ECAC’s Semi Final game. In 2011, the Lasers knocked off some of the top teams and look towards doing the same for the 2012 campaign. Lasell will look to junior Spencer Parker and sophomore Andrew Glenn to lead the Lasers to another incredible season.

4. Johnson and Wales University (23)

Johnson and Wales University will enter the season with strong, young team. The Wildcats will look to their three captains, Alex Viera (So.), Chris Gauch (Jr.), and Shawn Kennedy (So.) to provide leadership for JWU. Head Coach Scott Reslow will look towards their returning starters to lead the way towards another contention for a GNAC title.