BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University volleyball team has been picked to finish in fifth place in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) standings as the 2024 MASCAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll was released today by conference director of media relations, Emily Loux.

The Bears received 23 points in the poll. Westfield State University is the preseason favorite to capture the conference title as the defending MASCAC regular season champion Owls recorded 45 votes including four first-place votes. Framingham State University is second in the poll with 41 points as well as four first-place votes. The Rams captured the MASCAC Tournament title in 2023 and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament. MCLA rounds out the top three teams in the poll with 39 points.

Under the guidance of head coach Tony daSilveira (6th Year), the Bridgewater State volleyball team will open the 2024 season on Monday, September 2nd when the Bears entertain the AMCATS of Anna Maria College at noon.

MASCAC play gets underway on Tuesday, October 1st as the Bears travel to Framingham State University to take on the Rams at six o'clock. 

Returning veterans Moriah Baptista (Fr., DS, Dartmouth, Mass.), Sarah Brogioli (Jr., OH, Milford, Mass.), Meaghan Coutu (Jr., OH, Brookline, N.H.), Kim Gowell (Jr., OH, Durham, N.H.), Abigail Knight (Jr., RS, Berkley, Mass.), Lilly Misay (Fr., L, New Bedford, Mass.), Abigail Reardon (Sr., MH, Fairhaven, Mass.), Xin Ai Robinson (So., S/DS, St. Louis, Mo.), Alexis Starks (Jr., MH, Milford, Mass.), Bethany Votta (Gr., S, Cumberland, R.I.) and Lily Welch (So., MH, Hanson, Mass.) will help lead the Bears in 2024.

The Bears finished in a tie for fifth place in the 2023 MASCAC standings with a 2-5 conference mark (4-13 overall).