Coming off of one of the most successful seasons in program history, the University of Delaware field hockey team received 297 votes for a No. 14 ranking in the Penn Monto/National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) preseason poll announced Tuesday, Aug. 23.

The Blue Hens, who finished 2015 with their third straight Colonial Athletic Association title, a trip to the NCAA tournament and a No. 12 national ranking, had previously never been slotted higher than No. 18 in the preseason standings, that in 2013.

The University of North Carolina took home the top spot with 915 points and 16 first place votes. The reigning national champion, Syracuse, led all schools with 25 first place votes, but finished second to the 2015 runner-up Tar Heels with 898 total points.

Connecticut (818 points, three first place votes), Duke (758) and Virginia (746, two first place votes) rounded out the top five.

UD returns nine starters and 14 letter winners from a season ago, including the CAA’s preseason player of the year in senior Esmée Peet and All-CAA Preseason honorees in junior Emmeline Oltmans and sophomores Lisa Giezeman and Greta Nauck.

In total, 13 of UD’s 18 regular season opponents garnered votes in the preseason rankings.

The Hens open the 2016 campaign this coming weekend by hosting Ohio State on Saturday and Sunday, with both starts slated for noon at Rullo Stadium. The Buckeyes received 12 votes in the NFHCA preseason poll.

For more on UD Athletics, see BlueHens.com.