Fairfield Volleyball Selected as Preseason Favorite; Manuela Nicolini Tabbed Preseason Player of the Year
Fairfield Volleyball Selected as Preseason Favorite; Manuela Nicolini Tabbed Preseason Player of the Year
EDISON, NJ (Feb. 17, 2021) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) has announced the 2020-21 Preseason Coaches’ Poll and Preseason All-MAAC Team for Volleyball, as voted on by the league’s head coaches. Fairfield University has been selected as the preseason favorite, with graduate setter Manuela Nicolini being selected as the Preseason Player of the Year.
Fairfield received nine of 10 possible first place votes, totaling 99 points. Quinnipiac totaled 80 points and received one first place vote, good for second place. Rider University claimed third in the Preseason Poll, followed by Marist College, Canisius College, and Niagara University. The 2020-21 MAAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll was rounded out by Siena College, Iona College, and Manhattan College.
For the full Preseason Poll breakdown, as well as the 2020-21 MAAC Volleyball Preseason All-MAAC Team, see below.
The 2020-21 MAAC Volleyball Championship is set to take place from April 1-3 at the Albany Capital Center in Albany, New York. Stay up to date with all MAAC Volleyball Championship news by visiting
MAACSports.com/VB.
| Preseason Coaches' Poll |
| 1 |
Fairfield (9) |
99 |
| 2 |
Quinnipiac (1) |
80 |
| 3 |
Rider |
77 |
| 4 |
Marist |
69 |
| 5 |
Canisius |
66 |
| 6 |
Niagara |
48 |
| 7 |
Siena |
42 |
| 8 |
Iona |
35 |
| 9 |
Manhattan |
20 |
| 10 |
Saint Peter's |
14 |
| Preseason Player of the Year |
| Manuela Nicolini - Fairfield |
| Preseason All-MAAC Team |
| Player |
Position |
Year |
Institution |
| Joelle Battles |
Outside Hitter |
So. |
Fairfield |
| Jamie Smith |
Outside Hitter |
Sr. |
Iona |
| Morgan Romano |
Outside Hitter |
So. |
Rider |
| Camila Vazquez |
Middle Hitter |
Jr. |
Canisius |
| Kaylie Butts |
Middle Hitter |
Sr. |
Fairfield |
| Manuela Nicolini |
Setter |
Gr. |
Fairfield |
| Karla Seda |
Libero |
Sr. |
Saint Peter’s |
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) celebrates its 40th year of competition during the 2020-21 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.