RED HAWKS PICKED TO REPEAT IN PRESEASON COACHES POLL

Montclair, NJ (8/28/08) – After capturing its second New Jersey Athletic Conference championship a year ago and making its first appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament, the Montclair State volleyball team was picked to repeat its performance as the NJAC released its 2008 Preseason Coaches Poll on Thursday.

The Red Hawks received seven of nine first-place votes and top the poll followed by Richard Stockton (two first-place votes). Ramapo College was third and picked as the darkhorse followed by New Jersey City, Rowan, Rutgers-Newark, William Paterson, Kean and Rutgers-Camden.

Last season, Montclair authored the finest season in the history of the program as the Red Hawks posted a 22-15 overall mark setting a school record for victories under first-year head coach Elise Cooper. MSU finished third in the NJAC during the regular season at 6-2, but ran off three wins in five days in the conference tournament to capture its first league title since 1997. Montclair defeated William Paterson in the first round before going on the road and knocking off second-seeded Richard Stockton in the semifinals in five sets. It was the first time MSU had recorded a win against the Ospreys in 33 meetings.

Montclair punctuated its run with a 3-1 win over top-seeded New Jersey City in the championship handing the Gothic Knights their first home loss in 43 matches. The win put the Red Hawks into the NCAA Tournament where they fell to Nazareth College.

Nine players from last year’s team return, including three All-Conference members – Kara Burnham (Moorestown, NJ / Moorestown), Anna Chesnakova (East Brunswick, NJ / East Brunswick) and Raisa Silva (Newark, NJ / East Side) as well as the Defensive Player of the Year in Meghan Stevens (Woodcliffe Lake, NJ / Pascack Hills) and Rookie of the Year Devon Johnston (Moorestown, NJ / Moorestown).

Johnston's and Stevens' selections marked the first time that Montclair has won one of the major awards since Jamie Apuna was named NJAC Player of the Year in 1999. Johnston was three-time NJAC Rookie of the Week selection during the year as she collected 359 kills finishing second on the team while also adding 60 service aces, 358 digs and 43 total blocks. Stevens led the league in digs per game at 4.72 as she posted 387 digs. She collected 15 or more digs 13 times this season, including eight matches of 20 or more and a season-high of 33 in the Red Hawks 3-2 loss to Richard Stockton on September 25.

Burnham led Montclair State with 390 kills, the second-highest single-season total in Red Hawks history. She ranked third in the NJAC in hitting percentage (.248) and also ranked sixth in kills per game (2.95), seventh in blocks (0.59) and eighth in points per game (3.77). In 132 games Burnham had 39 service aces, 78 total blocks, including 47 solo, and contributed 97 digs.

Chesnakova picked up her second straight All-NJAC Second-Team honor after a season in which she collected 351 kills, and 125 blocks as she was second in the league in hitting percentage (.267) and third in blocks per game at 0.97 per contest.

Silva led the NJAC in assists as she broke her own single-season record with 1,300 this season averaging 10.74 per game. Silva also finished fourth on the team with 47 service aces and added 258 digs, which was the fourth-highest on the Red Hawks in 2007.

MSU opens up its 2008 season on Friday, August 29 as they take part in the Red Dragon Classic held at Cortland. Montclair will face Fredonia State and Plattsburgh in its first two matches. Montclair will play its first five dates on the road before its home and NJAC opener versus Rowan on September 16. All of the Red Hawks’ home contests this season will be played in the new Student Recreation Center as Panzer Gymnasium undergoes its renovation.