NEWPORT NEWS. Va. – The Atlantic 10 Conference released its annual volleyball coaches' preseason poll on Tuesday afternoon. Duquesne was picked to finish sixth, earning 51 points. The poll was voted on by the 10 head coaches in the conference.
The defending A-10 champion Dayton Flyers were picked to repeat as champions, earning eight first place votes and 98 total points. VCU received 92 points and the remaining two first-place votes to earn runner-up honors. Saint Louis rounds out the top three teams, earning 71 total points.
The Dukes return both of their Atlantic 10 postseason honorees in second team all-conference member senior setter
Dani Suiter and all-rookie team selection outside hitter
Summer Slade in 2019.
The 2019 Atlantic 10 Volleyball Championship will be played at Rhode Island's Keaney Gymnasium November 22-24. The winner of the championship will advance to the NCAA tournament. Every game of the 2019 championships will be streamed live on ESPN+.
The squad will travel to Youngstown State for a preseason exhibition on August 23, before opening the season at the UNCW Hampton Inns Invitational the weekend of August 30-31. The Dukes battle Charleston Southern on August 30 in the season-opening match and close out the tournament against North Florida and host UNCW on August 31.
Duquesne opens their home slate at PPG Paints Arena in the opening game of the ChampYinz Volleyball Invitational against Green Bay on September 6. The Dukes will make its home debut at Mt. Lebanon High School against a pair of A-10 foes in George Washington (Oct. 4) and George Mason (Oct. 6).
For tickets of day one of the ChampYinz Volleyball Invitational,
click here.
Poll (number in parenthesis denotes number of first-place votes)
1. Dayton - 98 (8)
2. VCU - 92 (2)
3. Saint Louis - 71
4. La Salle - 63
5. George Washington - 52
6. Duquesne - 51
7. George Mason - 48
8. Davidson - 30
9. Fordham - 28
10. Rhode Island - 21
