NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Yale Volleyball team, winners of six Ivy League titles in the last seven seasons including three in a row, has been selected to finish first in the official Ivy League preseason poll following a vote of communication contacts and members of the media.

The Bulldogs received nine of 16 first-place votes and 121 points overall.  Princeton was picked second, followed by Brown, Cornell, Penn, Harvard, Dartmouth and Columbia.

Last season, Yale went 12-2 in Ivy League play, won the conference post-season tournament and advanced to the NCAAs.  The Bulldogs are 45-3 over the last three seasons against Ivy opponents.

This season, the Bulldogs return All-Ivy First Team selection Betsy Goodenow along with three other all-conference members:  Laurece Abraham, Gigi Barr and Arya Jue.  Yale also welcomes first-years Yuri Park, Ava Poinsett, Naya Salfiti, and Gabriele Stasys.

The Bulldogs open the season on Friday, Sept. 5, at Villanova.

IVY LEAGUE VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL
Predicted Order of Finish (First Place Votes)

1. Yale - 121 (9)
2. Princeton - 119 (7)
3. Brown – 88
4. Cornell – 79
5. Penn – 58
6. Harvard – 53
7. Dartmouth – 42
8. Columbia - 16