Aug. 22, 2002

The George Mason University women's volleyball team has been selected to finish first in the Colonial Athletic Association this season in a preseason poll. The league's nine head coaches made the choices for the preseason poll and each coach could not vote for their respective team.

George Mason received close competition from 2001 CAA champion William & Mary and Hofstra, each receiving three first-place nominations in the poll. The Patriots edged out both schools in the overall vote with a total of 58 points. The Tribe and the Pride earned a total of 56 and 50 points, respectively. James Madison was chosen fourth with 43 points, followed by Delaware, Towson, Drexel, UNC Wilmington and Virginia Commonwealth. Old Dominion does not have a women's volleyball team.

George Mason and William & Mary ended the 2001 season with identical 11-1 conference records, tying for first place in the CAA rankings, but the Tribe advanced over the Patriots to win the CAA championship and a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

The Patriots were 18-7 overall last season. Seven players return from last year, led by CAA Player of the Year junior outside hitter Aline Pereira. Pereira led the league with 5.2 kills per game and ranked eighth in the nation in 2001 for kill average. Also returning to the Patriots is sophomore setter Jesica Umanksy, who averaged 13.09 assists per game and garnered the 2001 CAA Co-Rookie of the Year award.

The CAA will increase from seven to nine teams this year with the additions of Towson and Drexel, who joined the league permanently last winter, and George Mason and William & Mary have combined for 13 of the 18 league championships. The CAA Tournament will be held Nov. 22-24 at James Madison.