BEVERLY, Mass. - November 22, 2017 - After their historic run in the 2017 NCAA Tournament, Johnson & Wales (R.I.) claim top position in the final New England Women's Volleyball Association (NEWVA) Regional Poll.
NEWVA REGIONAL POLL FINAL
1. No. 6 (AVCA) Johnson & Wales (R.I.) (35-1, 12-0 GNAC) | 72 points
2. No. 20 MIT (AVCA) (30-3, 10-0 NEWMAC) | 66 points
T-3. Tufts (23-7, 10-0 NESCAC) | 60 points
T-3. Wesleyan (Conn.) (22-6, 9-2 NESCAC) | 60 points
5. Babson (22-10, 8-2 NEWMAC) | 50 points
6. Wellesley (22-7, 8-2 NEWMAC) | 49 points
7. Bowdoin (15-10, 8-3 NESCAC) | 41 points
8. Roger Williams (20-7, 9-0 CCC) | 32 points
T-9. Middlebury (16-9, 5-5 NESCAC) | 31 points
T-9. Endicott (22-10, 8-1 CCC) | 31 points
T-11. Springfield (15-13, 5-5 NEWMAC) | 21 points
T-11. Clark (Mass.) (18-10, 6-4 NEWMAC) | 21 points
13. UMass Boston (15-16, 6-1 LEC) | 11 points
14. Wentworth (25-5, 6-3 CCC) | 4 points
15. Coast Guard (16-14, 5-5 NEWMAC) | 3 points
Also receiving votes: Plymouth St. (19-11, 4-3 LEC), Amherst (17-10, 5-5 NESCAC)
THE TOP FIVE
1. No. 6 (AVCA) Johnson & Wales (R.I.) (35-1, 12-0 GNAC) | 72 points
Johnson & Wales (R.I.) finished their 2017 season with 35 wins to just one loss after going undefeated through the regular season, the GNAC Tournament, and the NCAA New England Regional. Their lone loss of the season came in the NCAA Quarterfinals, a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Calvin. The Wildcats appeared in the final AVCA Top-25 ranking at the No. 6 position.
2. No. 20 MIT (AVCA) (30-3, 10-0 NEWMAC) | 66 points
MIT took Johnson & Wales (R.I.) to the brink in the NCAA New England Regional, forcing five sets with the Wildcats. The Engineers came up short of winning the regional but finished their 2017 campaign ranked 20th in the AVCA Top-25 poll. MIT also won the NEWMAC Championship by delivering a 3-0 loss to Wellesley.
T-3. Tufts (23-7, 10-0 NESCAC) | 60 points
Tufts hosted the NESCAC Championship match but lost in four sets to Wesleyan (Conn.). Still, the Jumbos earned an at-large bid into the NCAA New England Regional where they ousted UMass Boston in straight sets before falling in five thrilling sets to MIT. Tufts was receiving votes in the final AVCA national poll.
T-3. Wesleyan (Conn.) (22-6, 9-2 NESCAC) | 60 points
Wesleyan (Conn.) beat Williams, Bowdoin, and Tufts to capture the 2017 NESCAC Championship. The Cardinals carried that momentum into the First Round of the NCAA New England Regional Tournament by defeating Wellesley, 3-0, before drawing ultimate regional winner Johnson & Wales (R.I.) in the Second Round.
5. Babson (22-10, 8-2 NEWMAC) | 50 points
Babson earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Regional Tournament, getting sent to the Clarkson bracket where they ultimately reached the finals. The Beavers took Ithaca to four sets but ended their 2017 season.
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS AROUND NEW ENGLAND
Commonwealth Coast Conference
Endicott upset Roger Williams on the road to capture their second consecutive CCC Championship. The Gulls won 3-2 behind a 22-kill, 10-dig effort from junior outside Emma Mancini.
Great Northeast Athletic Conference
Johnson & Wales (R.I.) rolled through the GNAC Tournament to capture their third straight conference title. Kate Walker and Katie Leidhold both had 11 kills in the 3-0 victory over Simmons.
Little East Conference
UMass Boston defended their home court against Keene St. with a 3-0 win in the LEC Championship. Macayla Chianco had 20 digs in the winning effort with three service aces.
Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference
Worcester St. defeated Framingham St. 3-1 before getting shipped off to the Atlanta Regional in the NCAA Tournament. Amari King and Emily Carens had 13 kills each in the win over Framingham.
North Atlantic Conference
Maine Maritime captured the NAC Championship with a 3-1 triumph over Colby-Sawyer. Jessica D'Auria crushed 11 kills with seven digs, four aces, and a block.
New England Collegiate Conference
Elms took down Lesley in straight sets to win the NECC title. Danielle Redding had nine kills and Ayanna Meadows added seven more to lead the Blazers into the NCAA New England Regional.
New England Small College Athletic Conference
Wesleyan (Conn.) upset top seed Tufts in the NESCAC Tournament to win a conference title and their first NCAA postseason appearances since 2001. Nicole Hilton struck 13 kills and Kaira Muraoka-Robertson dished out 42 assists to lead the Cardinals.
New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference
MIT capped off their NEWMAC Tournament run with a straight-set sweep of Wellesley before advancing deep in the New England Regional. In the conference title match, Abby Bertics had 15 kills, three digs, and three blocks.