BOSTON, Mass. – With the start of the 2015 season eight days away, the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's volleyball team has been picked to finish second in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference, according to the pre-season coaches poll. In addition to the preseason second place finish, the Leopards are among five schools receiving votes outside of the top 15 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Preseason Poll.

Seven-time defending conference champion Rivier topped the GNAC Preseason Poll as the Raiders picked up five of eight first-place votes and 59 total points. The Leopards garnered a pair of first-place votes and 56 total points. Emmanuel, which has advanced to the conference championship match in each of the last four seasons, was picked to finish third with 46 points.

In the AVCA Poll, the Leopards earned five points marking the first time since the 2001 campaign Wentworth has begun the season listed among teams receiving votes in the national coaches' poll. National finalist Juniata picked up six of 16 first-place votes to be selected to finish first (223) with Stevens Institute of Technology (four first-place votes, 220 points) and defending national champion Springfield (six first-place votes, 216 points) rounding out the top three.

Wentworth's schedule features three top 15 schools in Springfield, No. 8 Rivier, and No. 12 Rivier. Additionally, the Black & Gold open their season against Endicott, which also was a team receiving votes in the poll. The Leopards could also potentially play No. 9 Nazareth at the SUNYIT Tournament on Saturday, January 24.

The Leopards finished last season with a 27-8 record and captured the program's first ECAC Championship with a thrilling, 3-2 win at No. 12 Stevenson. Wentworth returns 10 letterwinners from that squad, including sophomore Collin Ritter (Feeding Hills, Mass.), senior Sean Donahue (Lincoln, R.I.), and sophomore Jake Reed who were all named All-GNAC last season.

Wentworth's season-opening match against the Gulls on January 21 features one of three matches against teams that participated in the 2015 NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Tournament. Last season the Leopards snapped a 21-match series losing streak as they edged Endicott, 3-2.