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CAA coaches announce 2004 preseason rankings

4:15 p.m., Aug. 17, 2004--The University of Delaware field hockey squad is picked to finish third in the Colonial Athletic Association, although the Fightin’ Blue Hens earned two first-place votes in balloting by conference coaches.

In other CAA preseason polls, the UD women’s soccer and volleyball teams were picked to finish fifth, and the men’s soccer team was picked to finish 10th.

In field hockey, eight-time defending champion Old Dominion was the pre-season favorite with six first-place votes and 48 total points. Old Dominion was followed by William & Mary (40), UD (39, with two first-place votes), James Madison (30), Virginia Commonwealth (24), Hofstra (20), Towson (12) and Drexel (11).

UD has advanced to the CAA championship game twice in the last three years and returns All-Americans Jessi Balmer and Erica LaBar from last year's team that went 14-7 under Head Coach Carol Miller

In women's soccer, defending champion William & Mary was the top pick with four first-place votes and 75 total points, edging Virginia Commonwealth with five first-place votes and 74 points. James Madison was third with one first-place vote and 66 points followed by Hofstra (57), UD and George Mason (45), University of North Carolina Wilmington (27), Old Dominion and Towson (25), and Drexel (11).

UD, led by Head Coach Scott Grzenda, is coming off one of its finest seasons ever when the Hens went 10-6-3, placed third in the CAA and advanced to the league quarterfinals. Goalkeeper Lindsay Shover leads a squad that should be strong defensively.

In women's volleyball, defending regular season champion Towson was the overwhelming favorite with seven first-place votes and 49 points. Tournament champion Hofstra was second with one first-place vote and 39 points, followed by James Madison (34), George Mason (32), UD (28), William & Mary (22), Virginia Commonwealth (13) and UNC Wilmington (7).

UD hopes to improve upon last year's 11-17 record under Head Coach Bonnie Kenny. All-CAA standout Valerie Murphy will lead by Hens.

In men's soccer, 2003 champion and NCAA second round participant Old Dominion was the heavy favorite with seven first-place votes and 78 points. Virginia Commonwealth was second with two first-place votes and 70 points, followed by George Mason with one first-place vote and 60 points, William & Mary (60), James Madison (51), UNC Wilmington (43), Hofstra (33), Drexel (28), Towson (16) and UD (10).

Head Coach Marc Samonisky's squad will look to better last year's 4-11-5 record. The Hens will be led by standout goalkeeper Kyle Haynes and sophomore midfielder Matt Haney.

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