Pitt-Johnstown, the PSAC Tournament champions two seasons ago, has been selected by the league's coaches to win the PSAC Eastern Division crown when the 2015 conference preseason women's volleyball poll was released on Tuesday.  Clarion was chosen as the favorite to win the PSAC Western Division title ... (Full PSAC Release)... (PSAC Volleyball Preseason Notes)

Third-year Head Coach Joanna Haupt's Pitt-Johnstown squad, which claimed the university's first PSAC crown in its first year in the conference in 2013, is the preseason favorite in the East for the second straight year.  The Lady Cats are led by a trio of sophomores, as Devan Orr (DS), Kendall Mahony (MH), and Cambria Wierman (OH) were all named to All-PSAC Teams as freshmen. Additionally, Mahoney was recognized as the PSAC East Freshman of the Year, while Orr was named the PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year.  Pitt-Johnstown also returns 2013 PSAC Tournament Most Valuable Player and All-Atlantic Region selection Marissa Erminio (OH), who red-shirted last season.

Last year's winners of the PSAC East, Lock Haven, are tabbed second in the poll. First Team All-PSAC East setter Jessica Brown is back for the Eagles, as is Megan Flick, a Second Team All-PSAC East performer.  Shippensburg is third in the poll, followed by West Chester, Kutztown, and Millersville. Last season, just three wins separated third place and sixth place in this division.  East Stroudsburg was voted seventh in the poll, while Cheyney closed things out in eighth.

Clarion is looking to win the PSAC West for the third consecutive year, compiling an impressive 40-4 combined conference record over the last two seasons. The Golden Eagles went to the NCAA Atlantic Regional Semifinals last year.  Last year's PSAC West Athlete of Year, Laura Subject, has graduated, but Clarion does return the 2014 PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year, Morgan Seybold, and the PSAC West Freshman of the Year, Gabrielle Olson. Also back for the Golden Eagles is Mackenzie Biggs, who was All-PSAC West Second Team in 2014.

California and Gannon and tied for second place in the poll. California won the PSAC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Atlantic Regional Finals last year. Returning for the Vulcans this year is Atlantic Regional All-Tournament Team member Mary Lavery and two-time Second Team All-PSAC West honoree Miranda Fouzie.  Gannon won at least 20 matches for the sixth straight year in 2014. The 2015 Golden Knights will be led by two returning First-Team All-PSAC West members: Hannah Kren and Lynne Hibbard. Kren was also named to the Atlantic Regional All-Tournament Team.

The entire poll is listed below.
PSAC WEST
1. Clarion
T-2. California
T-2. Gannon
4. Seton Hill
T-5. Edinboro
T-5. Mercyhurst
T-7. IUP
T-7. Slippery Rock

PSAC EAST
1. Pitt-Johnstown
2. Lock Haven
3. Shippensburg
4. West Chester
5. Kutztown
6. Millersville
7. East Stroudsburg
8. Cheyney