LOWELL, MA (Aug. 22, 2006) – The UMass Lowell volleyball team, which enjoyed its fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament in the last six years in 2005, was selected to place fourth in the Northeast-10 Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, released Tuesday.

UML is fresh off a 19-10 overall record (11-3 in the NE-10) and a fourth-place finish in conference play in 2005. The River Hawks ended the season with a 3-1 setback to Bentley in the NCAA Tournament first round.

Bryant University, which posted a 27-10 overall record and a 13-1 clip in the NE-10, was selected as the favorite with nine first-place votes while Saint Rose (25-7, 12-2) garnered five first-place votes and was picked second.

Bentley (29-8, 14-0), the 2005 regular season champion, was selected third with one first-place vote.

Le Moyne (19-10, 8-6) was chosen fifth and was followed by Franklin Pierce (14-14, 9-5), Merrimack (10-18, 8-6) and Pace (13-14, 8-6). Stonehill (8-19, 5-9) came in ninth, just ahead of American International (5-13, 5-9), Southern New Hampshire (9-16, 4-10) and Saint Anselm (3-23, 3-11).

Saint Michael’s (4-16, 2-212), Southern Connecticut (7-19, 2-12) and Assumption (5-22, 1-13) completed the poll.

All-conference setter Caitlin Harte (East Rochester, NH), a senior, leads four starters and six veterans returning from last year’s squad. Also back is sophomore MH Nicole O’Sullivan (Quincy, MA), who led the River Hawks with 0.81 blocks per game, and junior Kristina Martell (Chelmsford, MA), UML’s top returning hitter with 1.94 kills and 2.65 digs per game.

UML opens the season Friday and Saturday, hosting the UML River Hawk Invitational. UML meets Franklin Pierce Friday at 5:00 and battles C.W. Post (10:00) and the University of Charleston (12:30) Saturday.