New York, NY--Vying for the program's first conference title since 2008, The Sage Colleges' women's volleyball team has been selected to seize the 2013 Skyline Women's Volleyball Championship in voting conducted by the league's ten head coaches.
The Gators received six first-place votes and compiled 78 points, while defending champion Mount Saint Mary garnered four first-place votes and 75 overall points. Sage will be led by junior outside hitter Helen Putriment (Troy, NY/Cobleskill-Richmondville). Putriment, a two-time Skyline All-Conference First-Team selection, who amassed 309 kills and 416 digs a year ago as Sage won 20 games and posted an 8-1 mark in league play.
The Sage Colleges' women's volleyball team will be taking to the court for the third straight season under the guidance of veteran head coach Sandy Augstein-Collins, the 2012 Skyline Conference Women's Volleyball Coach of the Year. A year ago, the Gators posted a 20-13 record under Augstein-Collins after racking up an impressive 8-1 mark in the Skyline Conference. Not only did the Gators earn the No. 2 seed in the Skyline Tournament, but the squad also qualified for the 2012 ECAC Division III Upstate Tournament.
With nine letterwinners returning to the lineup, including two Skyline Conference All-Star First Team performers, senior setter Joanie Cooney (Ballston Lake, NY/Shenendehowa) and Putriment. A 2012 Skyline Conference Second-Team pick as a rookie, sophomore right side Morgan Robinson (Ballston Lake, NY/Shenendehowa) returns to the floor as well.
Sage returns to action on September 6 and 7 travelling to Massachusetts to compete in the Endicott College Invitational and will face four opponents over the course of the two-day tournament. Sage returns home on September 11 hosting Bard College in a 7 p.m. non-conference match in the Kahl Gym.
Coming of their first-ever NCAA appearance and third consecutive 20-win season, MSMC welcomes back sophomore libero Jen Gries. The Hicksville, N.Y., resident led the Knights with an average of 4.30 digs per set while adding 43 aces en route to earning first-team All-Conference distinction in 2012.
St. Joseph's finished third in the voting with 65 points, followed by Farmingdale State (55), NYU-Poly (49), Mount Saint Vincent (42), Old Westbury (34), Purchase (26), Maritime (17) and Yeshiva (9).
The quarterfinals of the six-team Skyline Women's Volleyball Championship will be held on Wednesday, November 6. The semifinals and finals will be played at Mount Saint Mary College (Newburgh, NY) on Saturday, November 9, as part of the Skyline's Inaugural Fall Festival.
2013 Skyline Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Sage - 78 [6]
2. Mount Saint Mary - 75 [4]
3. St. Joseph's-L.I. - 65
4. Farmingdale State - 55
5. NYU-Poly - 49
6. Mount Saint Vincent - 42
7. Old Westbury - 34
8. Purchase - 26
9. Maritime - 17
10. Yeshiva - 9
First-place votes in parentheses
