WATERVILLE, Me. (August 31, 2021) – The SUNY Delhi women's volleyball team received favorable praise in today's 2021 NAC Preseason Polls, tying with SUNY Poly as the number-one team in the NAC West on the eve of their regular season opener. The Broncos and Wildcats each earned 19 points with two first-place votes. Entering his 17th season at the helm, head coach Beau Bracchy has his squad poised to live up to their preseason expectations and return to the NAC Tournament.

SUNY Delhi showcased a productive spring season, pulling out a 6-2 record against their Western Division opponents, including a doubleheader sweep of SUNY Poly and SUNY Cobleskill. Delhi is led by lone senior and middle hitter Witchney Clersainville, backed by a third-year class the features juniors Chloe Elsenbeck, Marie Julian, Gabriela Kralik, and Lexi Taylor. Julian and Taylor finished tied for the team lead with 55 total kills, with Julian standing alone atop the team leaderboard with 173 total digs. Replacing just three graduating student-athletes from last year, a crop of newcomers are ready to make their mark. This includes two transfers and four freshmen.

The aforementioned senior and juniors are the five returning members of the 2019 squad that landed a NAC Tournament berth in their first year in the conference. Taylor was twice named NAC Rookie of the Week, while Julian earned one rookie weekly honor.  

SUNY Canton sat third in the west poll one vote behind Delhi and Poly, scoring 18 points with one first-place votes. SUNY Cobleskill ranked fourth with 11 points, while Cazenovia took fifth with eight points. Defending league champion Maine Maritime were selected the East Division favorites with 25 points and five first-place votes.

Season Outlook:

Veteran head coach Beau Bracchy charges into the Fall 2021 season after a successful (6-2) yet brief spring 2021. The Broncos welcome back ten players and six starters including junior outside hitters Lexi Taylor and Marie Julian, both recognized with NAC honors in 2019. The team of experienced players and talented newcomers is poised to return to the NAC tournament this fall.

2021 Schedule:

The ladies start their season on the road with a match against Sage on Sept. 1, followed by their first home match against Marywood Sept. 2. Delhi then competes on the weekend at Sarah Lawrence on Sept. 4, followed by a match versus Utica College on Sept. 8. Delhi travels to the University of St. Elizabeth on Sept. 13, then returns back home against Clarks Summit on Sept. 23. The ladies then have two matches on Sept. 25 at Worcester State, beginning with Fitchburg State then the host Lancers. The Broncos host Elmira on Sept. 27, then travel up to SUNY Cobleskill to start their NAC West season on Sept. 29. To end off the month of September, Delhi hosts division-foe Cazenovia Sept. 30. 

Delhi enters October with four home games and seven away games. First it's home against SUNY Canton in division play Oct. 3, followed by seven away matches: Hartwick on Oct 5, SUNY Poly Oct. 7, Eastern Connecticut State and Castleton Oct. 9 hosted by Castleton, Cazenovia Oct. 14, SUNY Canton Oct. 17, and Bard Oct. 19. The women then host three matches: a NAC West tri-match with SUNY Cobleskill and SUNY Poly Oct. 24, and finally Utica College Oct 27. 

The top seed in each half will host quarterfinal and semifinal contests, then the East and West champions will vie for the NAC Championship and automatic qualification (AQ) to the NCAA championship tournament. A rotation was established for determining who will host the conference championship, and the prevailing team in the East will host in 2021, followed by the West in 2022, and so on.