BOSTON - The University at Albany volleyball program has been picked in a tie to finish second in the 2025 America East Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference announced Thursday. In addition, two Great Danes have been named to the Preseason All-Conference team.
 
With a young team, Josh Pickard and his coaching staff led the Purple and Gold back to the championship match in 2024. In a thrilling end to the season, the Great Danes qualified for the tournament with a win over Bryant and went on to upset the host and first-seeded Binghamton in the semifinal game to end their season at the championship matchup.
 
Reigning America East Champions New Hampshire have been unanimously selected to finish first with 25 points including five first-place votes. UMBC and UAlbany tied to finish second with 18 points each. UMBC earned the first-place vote from New Hampshire since teams are not allowed to vote for themselves.
 
Bryant (13) and Binghamton (11) are separated by just two points for fourth and fifth place respectively. NJIT rounds out the poll with five points.
 
In addition to the annual Coaches' Preseason Poll, the America East coaching staffs voted for the AE Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team. As part of the seven-person team, the Great Danes placed two on the second list published by the league.
 
Redshirt-senior Shynelle Woroniuk and sophomore Maria Olga Siapani represent UAlbany on the team. The top hitter on the team, Woroniuk was named First Team All-Conference and All-Academic following the 2024 season. She ranked top three in the conference in both kills per set (3.58) and points per set (3.96) and was a part of all six rotations. Siapani was honored as the only setter on the team after a breakout season as a rookie. The Cyprus native was named the AE Rookie of the Year with Second Team All-Conference and All-Rookie nods. She was a five-time Setter of the Week and six-time Rookie of the Week while totaling 11 double-doubles and seeing two matches with 40+ assists - 44 at Binghamton (Nov. 22) and 50 at UConn (Sept. 14).
 
Check out the full AE Preseason Poll and All-Conference Team below.
 
2025 America East Preseason Coaches' Poll

       1.    New Hampshire - 25 (5)
       T2.  UMBC - 18 (1)
       T2.  UAlbany - 18
       4.    Bryant - 13
       5.    Binghamton - 12
       6.    NJIT - 5
 
2025 America East Preseason All-Conference
Viktoria Dimitrova - RS - Binghamton
Hannah Dobbs - OH - New Hampshire
Rachel Grier - MB - New Hampshire
Meredith Hohnbaum - RS - New Hampshire
Maria Olga Siapani - S - UAlbany
Arianna Ugolini - OH - Bryant
Shynelle Woroniuk - OH - UAlbany
 
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