Aug. 4, 2006

Eight months and two days removed from its first NCAA appearance in a decade, the Siena volleyball team learned Friday it is the coaches' choice to repeat its 2005 MAAC Championship this fall. The Saints received 96 of a possible 100 votes, edging second place Fairfield (94) in the annual Preseason Coaches' Poll. Junior outside hitter Nadiege Honore was named Preseason Player of the Year.

Siena was picked ninth in last year's poll, which was memorable because head coach Garvey Pierre confidently cast his first place ballot for the Saints. Pierre's prognostication proved accurate as the Saints reeled off nine straight victories to capture the #2 seed in the conference championships and stun top seeded Fairfield in the MAAC Championship game.

The Saints return four of six starters from last year's team along with sophomore libero Kathi Kobayashi. Among the returning players is Honore (San Fernando, Trinidad), who set a school record averaging 3.96 kills per game as a sophomore.

Honore was joined on the All-MAAC team by teammates Christie Gustafson and April London. Gustafson, a senior captain was named MAAC Tournament MVP and Second Team All-MAAC as a junior. She was second on the team with 3.46 kills per game as a junior. London was named MAAC Rookie of the Year and MAAC co-setter of the year establishing a new school benchmark with 10.4 assists per game in 2005.

The Saints will be challenged from the start as they open their season in Tucson, Ariz. in the Arizona Wildcat Invitational August 25-26.