Moon Township, Pa. ? The Robert Morris University volleyball team, under the direction of sixth-year head coach Rob Thomas, was selected third in the 2008 Northeast Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll. The Colonials posted an overall record of 18-11 in 2007, finished third in the NEC with a 6-2 record and earned second place in the 2007 NEC Tournament.  

Central Connecticut collected four first-place votes as the preseason favorite to win the conference. Long Island, the defending conference champions, earned three first-place votes to land second, while Robert Morris earned two first-place votes for the third spot. Fairleigh Dickinson was chosen fourth followed by Sacred Heart, Saint Francis (Pa.), Quinnipiac, Wagner and St. Francis (N.Y.).

Robert Morris finished as the runner-up in the NEC Tournament last season for the fourth year in a row and return four starters and a libero from that squad. Highlighting the group of returnees are All-NEC First Team selection Amanda Graham (Melbourne, Fla. / Eau Gallie) and All-NEC Second Team selection Emily Wolthuis (Byron Center, Mich. / South Christian). Graham led the team and league in hitting percentage with a .344 average and was second on the team in kills with 344. Wolthuis led the team in kills with 357 and was second in digs with 271.

Joining Graham and Wolthuis is 2007 All-NEC Tournament selection Cassie Lee (Vista, Calif. / Vista), who posted 270 kills and 111 digs last season, and senior Alaina Gibson (Muncie, Indiana / Muncie Burris), who led the team in digs with 454 and finished with 36 aces in 2007.  

The Colonials will have a lot of experience on the floor with two of the starters and a libero entering their senior season. The team also returns nine letterwinners, and adds two sophomore transfers and two freshmen.

The Colonials open their season Friday, Aug. 29, when they host Lehigh at 11:00 a.m. and Loyola (Md.) at 7:00 p.m. at the Robert Morris Sewall Center.

2008 Northeast Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll

(First place votes in parentheses)

1. Central Connecticut State (4)

2. Long Island (3)

3. Robert Morris (2)

4. Fairleigh Dickinson

5. Sacred Heart

6. Saint Francis (Pa.)

7. Quinnipiac

8. Wagner

9. St. Francis (N.Y.)