RICHMOND, VA -- The University of Delaware women’s volleyball squad, which features two of the top players in the league in junior Kelly Gibson (at right) and senior Colleen Walsh, was picked No. 3 in the Colonial Athletic Association Volleyball Pre-Season Coaches Poll announced Wednesday.

Delaware, led by sixth-year head coach Bonnie Kenny, received three first place votes and 66 total points in balloting compiled by the 10 league head coaches.

Defending champion Hofstra was the pre-season favorite as the Pride received three first place votes and 71 points, edging James Madison, which had two first place votes and 67 points, and Delaware.

Virginia Commonwealth was picked fourth with two first place votes and 54 points followed by Towson (47 points), Northeastern (39), William & Mary (39), George Mason (26), Georgia State (24), and UNC Wilmington (9).

The Blue Hens welcome back six letterwinners and four starters from last year’s team that posted a record of 21-7, including a 12-0 start. Delaware placed fifth in the CAA regular season standings with an 11-7 record and advanced to the CAA Tournament semifinals.

Gibson earned first team All-CAA honors last season when she registered 4.3 kills and 4.0 digs per game and posted a hitting percentage of .235 while Walsh was a second team All-CAA pick after collecting a league-high 4.7 kills per game, hitting at a .290 clip, and recording 2.0 digs per game.

Also leading the Hens are senior setter Megan Welch, who led the CAA with 13.42 assists per game a year ago, and sophomore Michelle LaLonde, who earned CAA All-Rookie honors after hitting .308 and posting 2.58 kills per game.

Delaware will open the season Aug. 24-25 when the Blue Hens host the annual Delaware Invitational at Viera Court. The Blue Hens will open the season Aug. 24 vs. Boston College at 7 p.m. followed by matches vs. Binghamton and South Carolina on Aug. 25.

AGATE:

2007 Colonial Athletic Association Volleyball Pre-Season Coaches Poll: 1. Hofstra (3 first place votes), 71 points; 2. James Madison (2), 67; 3. Delaware (3), 66; 4. Virginia Commonwealth (2), 54; 5. Towson, 47; 6. Northeastern, William & Mary, 39; 8. George Mason, 26; 9. Georgia State, 24; 10. UNC Wilmington, 9.