WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Westfield State women's volleyball has been picked to finish third in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, based on the preseason vote of the loop's eight coaches.
The Owls recorded a 5-2 record in league play a year ago, and advanced to the conference tournament semifinals.
Worcester State, the defending conference champs, were chosen to repeat, garnering six of the eight first place votes, and 48 points. Framingham was second with two first place votes and 42 points, while the Owls were third with 39 points.
The Owls return a solid nucleus that includes all-conference hitters Briana Starkey (rockland, Mass.) and Natasha Belardo (Holyoke HS/Springfield, Mass.).
Westfield's first match of the 2018 campaign will be at Springfield College on Friday, August 31 at 5:00 p.m.