FAIRFAX, Va.-- George Mason women's volleyball was selected to finish seventh in the Atlantic 10 conference preseason poll, as voted on by the league's head coaches the A-10 announced Monday.

Defending league champions, Dayton, were picked to repeat with eight first-place votes and 88 total points, putting the Flyers just ahead of George Washington in second place with 79 points and the two remaining first-place votes. Saint Louis rounds out the top three with 74 points.

Rhode Island narrowly beat out VCU for the fourth spot with URI earning 58 points compared to VCU's 57. Duquesne is the final team picked above Mason with 48 points in sixth followed by the Patriots with 30 in seventh. Davidson, Fordham and La Salle round out the poll with 23, 21 and 17 points, respectively.  

Mason opens its first season under head coach Jackie Simpson on Friday against Georgetown at American University as part of day one of the DC Volleyball Challenge. The Patriots will open up play at home Saturday with matches against Howard and American.

The Patriots return 12 letter winners including the team-leader in kills, senior Morghan Martin (223) and blocks in sophomore Sydney Fanoga (97).  In addition, Mason welcomes four freshmen to the roster in Catie Espinoza, Maddie French, Montana Green and Erica Partridge.

2015 Atlantic 10 Conference Volleyball Preseason Poll

Number in parenthesis indicates first-place votes.

1.      Dayton (8)                   88

2.      GW (2)                         79

3.      Saint Louis                   74

4.      Rhode Island               58

5.      VCU                             57

6.      Duquesne                    48

7.      George Mason            30

8.      Davidson                     23

9.      Fordham                      21

10.  La Salle                        17