NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The University of Dayton volleyball team has been picked to finish second in the 2018 Atlantic 10 Conference volleyball poll, which was announced Wednesday. The preseason poll was voted on by the league's 10 head volleyball coaches.

Defending A-10 Champion VCU has been selected as the preseason favorite, receiving all 10 possible first-place votes. UD finished second in the preseason poll with 90 points. Dayton, who fell to VCU in a thrilling title game last year, finished last season with a record of 23-8 overall and 13-1 in league play. The Flyers are looking for their fourth A-10 title in the last five years.

The 2018 campaign begins Friday with Atlantic 10 teams competing in season-opening tournaments. The 2018 Atlantic 10 Volleyball Championship will be played at VCU's Stuart C. Siegel Center on Nov. 16-18.
                       
2018 Atlantic 10 Volleyball Preseason Poll
(number in parenthesis indicates first-place votes)
VCU (10) - 100
Dayton - 90
Saint Louis - 80
Duquesne - 63
George Washington - 61
Rhode Island - 44
Fordham - 36
Davidson - 35
La Salle - 23
George Mason - 18
 
About the Atlantic 10 Conference
The Atlantic 10 Conference was founded in 1975 and consists of 14 diverse members across eight states and Washington, D.C. The mission of the Atlantic 10 is to provide an enhanced student-athlete experience through 21 nationally competitive championship sports. The basketball-centric conference is committed to integrity, educational excellence and providing quality equitable championship experiences for its student-athletes, coaches, and support staff. The membership consists of Davidson College, the University of Dayton, Duquesne University, Fordham University, George Mason University, The George Washington University, La Salle University, the University of Massachusetts, the University of Rhode Island, University of Richmond, St. Bonaventure University, Saint Joseph's University, Saint Louis University and Virginia Commonwealth University. For more information, visit www.atlantic10.com.