NAC Release

WATERVILLE--The Maine Maritime Academy women's volleyball team received a possible 25 points and first place votes to rank at the top of the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) East Division coaches' preseason poll, released this week.

In voting by the NAC's five head coaches in the division, Maine Maritime outdistanced second-place Husson by nine points (16). SUNY Delhi has been forecasted to secure the top spot in the West Division, according to the conference's four head coaches in the West.

The Mariners, who saw their streak of six-consecutive NAC championships end last fall at the hands of Eastern Nazarene in five sets, look to return to the top of the table with a new leader on the bench. Heather Benson is a veteran coach with 11 years of college and high school experience and will take her place in the huddle. A strong cast of returners will assist with the transition, as the Mariners bring back six starters, including All-NAC honorees Katie Albritton, Sydney Rich, and Ila Smith – who ranked third nationally in hitting percentage (.415) last fall – to help the program remain in conference championship and NCAA Tournament-bound contention.

Maine Maritime went 21-6 overall and 10-0 in the conference in 2023.

The Mariners' season opener will be this weekend when they host the Coast of Maine Classic at Smith Gymnasium, welcoming Southern Maine, St. Joseph's College of Maine and University of New England. Friday's matches start at 6 and 8 p.m., and Saturday at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

The 2024 regular season concludes on Sunday, Nov. 5, with the 2024 NAC Women's Volleyball Tournament beginning play the following day, when the West Division opens with a first round matchup. Tourney play continues with a West Division final and East Division quarterfinals on Saturday, Nov. 9t with the East Semifinal taking place the following day. The 2024 NAC Championship will take place on Saturday, Nov. 16 at the site of the West Division champion.

The conference champion earns an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Tournament, which begins on Thursday, Nov. 21.