Aug. 21, 2007

Somerset, NJ - After participating in their first Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament since 2001 the Wagner College Seahawks were picked to make it two in a row in the annual coaches' poll.

Wagner College, led by fifth-year head man Kevin Michael Papa, was tabbed to finish sixth while three-time defending NEC Champion Long Island was overwhelmingly selected to make it four-straight after collecting all eight first-place votes.

Hoping to challenge Long Island is CCSU, which placed second in the poll. Saint Francis (PA) edged out last season's tournament runner-up and perennial contender Robert Morris for third, with Fairleigh Dickinson coming in fifth. After the Seahawks at sixth, Sacred Heart is seventh followed by Quinnipiac and St. Francis (NY).

The Green & White will take aim at a second straight NEC Tournament berth behind sophomore standouts Gabi Hilk (Wilmington, DE / Alexis I. DuPont) and Sam O'Brien (San Francisco, CA / Sacred Heart Cathedral). Last season, Hilk finished eighth in the NEC in assists (5.11 apg) as a setter while O'Brien, a middle blocker, registered 47 service aces (.43 sapg), ranking seventh amongst conference leaders.

Wagner returns eight letterwinners and four starters from last year's team that went 9-23 and 4-4 in the NEC before suffering a tough five-set loss in the NEC Tournament.

The Seahawks will kick off their season with a Labor Day tilt against Navy on Monday, Sept. 3 at 2 pm.