EDISON, NJ (Aug. 21, 2024) – Defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Volleyball champions, Fairfield University, has been picked as the favorites to repeat according to the 2024 MAAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll, while Quinnipiac University’s Ginevra Giovagnoni was named Preseason Player of the Year, as voted on by the league’s 12 head coaches.
The Stags received a league-most 143 points with 11 first-place votes to lead all other schools in the poll. The most decorated program in MAAC history, Fairfield capped off 2023 by claiming its 13
th MAAC Championship title and 22
nd MAAC Regular Season Championship, both of which are the most all-time in the conference’s history. The Stags posted a 22-7 overall record and a 16-2 league record, which included a perfect 11-0 home mark versus MAAC opponents in 2023. Additionally, Fairfield owns the nation’s longest active streak of outright regular season crowns, having secured five-straight MAAC Regular Season trophies since 2019.
2023 championship runner-up, Quinnipiac, finished second in the poll, earning 125 points and the remaining first-place vote, while MAAC newcomer Sacred Heart University was slated in third place with 112 points. Rounding out the league’s top half were Rider University (98), Niagara University (93), and Marist College (92).
A rising junior outside hitter, Giovagnoni becomes the first MAAC Preseason Player of the Year recipient from Quinnipiac. Hailing from Montale Rangone, Italy, Giovagnoni appeared in 63 sets across 18 matches during her second season with the Bobcats. She led the MAAC in both kills per set with 4.14 and points per set with 4.67, while leading Quinnipiac in total kills (261), digs per set (3.16) and ranking second on the team in total points (294). Giovagnoni earned spots on the All-MAAC First Team and MAAC All-Championship Team during the 2023 campaign and was a member of the 2022 All-Championship Team during her first year in Hamden when she helped guide the Bobcats to their first and only MAAC title.
The full Preseason Coaches’ Poll and remainder of the Preseason All-MAAC Team can be found below.
| 2024 MAAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll |
| 1 |
Fairfield |
143 (11) |
| 2 |
Quinnipiac |
125 (1) |
| 3 |
Sacred Heart |
112 |
| 4 |
Rider |
98 |
| 5 |
Niagara |
93 |
| 6 |
Marist |
92 |
| 7 |
Iona |
83 |
| 8 |
Canisius |
56 |
| 9 |
Manhattan |
53 |
| 10 |
Siena |
38 |
| 11 |
Merrimack |
30 |
| 12 |
Saint Peter’s |
13 |
| Preseason Co-Players of the Year |
| Ginevra Giovagnoni – Quinnipiac |
| Preseason All-MAAC Team |
| Player |
Position |
Year |
Institution |
| Allie Elliot |
Outside Hitter |
Jr. |
Fairfield |
| Mikayla Haut* |
Outside Hitter |
Sr. |
Fairfield |
| Maya Walker |
Middle Blocker |
Jr. |
Fairfield |
| Mackenzie Wiggins |
Outside Hitter |
Sr. |
Iona |
| Laryssa Imbuzeiro |
Middle Blocker |
Sr. |
Niagara |
| Ginevra Giovagnoni |
Outside Hitter |
Jr. |
Quinnipiac |
| Damla Gunes |
Setter |
Jr. |
Quinnipiac |
Denotes unanimous selection*
The 2024 MAAC Volleyball Championship is an eight-team, single-elimination championship taking place November 21-24, 2024, at UHY Center in Loudonville, NY on the campus of Siena College. The first round will take place on Thursday, November 21, followed by the second round on Friday, November 22, the semifinals on Saturday, November 23, and concluding with the championship final on Sunday, November 24. Siena will serve as host of the four-day championship for the 14th time. For all information regarding the 2024 MAAC Volleyball Championship, please visit
maacsports.com/vb.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 44th year of competition during the 2024-25 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
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