CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College volleyball team was chosen as the favorite to win the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference North Division this season, according to the CACC Preseason Volleyball Poll. The Cougars, who finished first in the CACC North last season, received 10 first-place votes and a total of 94 points in the poll, which was conducted by the conference's 13 head coaches.

Last season Caldwell, coached by Megan Hrbek, was picked to finish last in the division after posting a combined 4-41 record over the previous two seasons. The Cougars shocked the league and went 18-11, including a 13-4 mark in conference play, to capture the North and qualify for the CACC Tournament. After defeating Nyack 3-1 in the quarterfinals, Caldwell lost to Philadelphia, 3-1 in the semifinal round. The remarkable improvement resulted in Hrbek receiving the CACC Coach of the Year award.

Twelve of last year's players return, including all-CACC performers Amber Mosher (Flanders, NJ/Mount Olive), Lauren Roth (Findlay, OH/Findlay) and Titilola Alao (Ossining, NY/Ossining). Mosher, pictured, was named to the all-CACC first team, Roth made the second team and Alao received all-CACC honorable mention.

Bloomfield received the other four first-place votes and finished second in the North Division poll with 83 points. Three-time defending CACC champion Georgian Court was picked atop the South Division poll, followed by Holy Family and Philadelphia.

The Cougars begin the 2009 season at the University of Bridgeport Tournament with non-conference matches against the host Purple Knights and Holy Family on Sept. 4 in Bridgeport, Conn.

2009 CACC Preseason Volleyball Poll - North Division

South Division