Defending Champ Eagles Picked Second In Skyline Preseason Poll

Press Release from the Skyline Conference

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Anchored by reigning Player of the Year Helen Putriment, Sage has been selected to capture the 2014 Skyline women's volleyball crown in voting conducted by the league's head coaches. 

Coming off a perfect 9-0 conference regular season and runner-up finish at the 2013 Skyline Championship, the Gators received eight first-place votes and 64 total points.  A senior outside hitter, Putriment led the league in kills (3.06 per set) and ranked second in digs (4.03 per set) last season and looks to lead the program to its first Skyline title since 2008.  

2013 champion St. Joseph's-L.I. finished second in the voting with 55 points and garnered one first-place vote.  Bolstered by the return of tournament MVP Heather Ferchland (3.03 kills per set) and senior Julianne Tierney (8.38 assists per set), the Golden Eagles (21-13) seek to increase their victory total for the fourth consecutive year. 

Farmingdale State and Mount Saint Mary finished tied for third in the voting with 45 points apiece.  Senior Sarah Palladino of FSC amassed a league-best 99 service aces a year ago, while MSMC welcomes back a trio of All-Conference second-team selections in Jen Gries, Kayla Kurka and Claire Scully.  Mount Saint Vincent finished fifth in the voting with 38 points, followed by Purchase (31), Old Westbury (23), Maritime (11) and Yeshiva (11).  

The first round of the six-team 2014 Skyline Women's Volleyball Championship will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 5.  The semifinals (Nov. 7) and title match (Nov. 8) will be held at Purchase College in conjunction with the Skyline Fall Festival.

The Skyline also welcomes its newest member, Sarah Lawrence College, to the conference this season.  SLC will play every member institution in 2014 but will not be eligible for Skyline and NCAA Championship participation as it completes its final year of NCAA Division III provisional membership.           

2014 Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Sage (8) - 64 points
2. St. Joseph's-L.I. (1) - 55 points
3. Farmingdale State - 45 points
(tie) Mount Saint Mary - 45 points
5. Mount Saint Vincent - 38 points
6. Purchase - 31 points
7. Old Westbury - 23 points
8. Maritime - 11 points
(tie) Yeshiva - 11 points

First-place votes in parentheses