CCC 2016 Pre-Season Women's Volleyball Coaches' Poll

NEWPORT, R.I. – The Salve Regina University women's volleyball team is picked to finish fourth according to a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) pre-season coaches' poll.

Salve Regina (11-17 overall, 5-3 CCC) finished tied for fourth in regular season a year ago.

Lone senior Kat Mendes (New Bedford, Mass.) returns for her second year serving as captain for the Seahawks with a six-member junior class. Junior Samantha Salwa (Ellington, Conn.) and sophomore Erin Proctor (Canton, Mass.) each have another season of experience at setter with a better understanding of their teammates.

In addition to Mendes on the outside, Nora Donahue (Braintree, Mass.), Sydney Puffer (Kittery, Maine), and Francesca Testani (Shelton, Conn.) return for added depth in the Seahawk lineup. All-CCC middle blocker Samantha Higgins (Coventry, R.I.) will get help from newcomers Annie Donahue and Jenna Boyd.

Head coach Lauren Parsons takes her program out of region, similar to Gettysburg two years ago, while visiting her alma mater, Averett University, in Virginia.

"I'm excited to show the players where I came from, and I want to challenge and expose our program to strong volleyball," says Parsons.

The Poll:

**Points are awarded based on position selected in the poll. A first place vote is awarded 10 points, a second place vote is nine points, etc.