NORTH BOSTON, N.Y. – La Roche volleyball was selected fifth in the 2024 AMCC Preseason Poll, released by the conference on Thursday.

The Redhawks finished last season with a 16-11 overall record and a 5-4 mark in AMCC play, earning the #5 seed in the AMCC Volleyball Tournament, upending #4 Wells in the First Round, before falling to Penn State Altoona in the Semifinals.

Despite the loss of 10 players from last season's roster, La Roche returns a wealth of experience from the 2023 team and will be joined by nine newcomers to the program.

The Redhawks return three of their top four leaders in kills from last season, including team leader and Third Team All-AMCC selection, Kalli Grine, as well as Second Team All-AMCC and 2024 Player to Watch honoree, Quinn Hughes and Aislyn Williams.

Defensively, La Roche will be top notch, as Hughes and her conference leading 107 total blocks, as well as Grine and her 75 blocks return on the front line.

In the back, Preseason Player to Watch selection, fifth year student Mackenzie Kerkan returns, as the program's leader in all-time digs, stuffed out 561 last season and led the AMCC.

Defending champion Penn State Altoona earned the top spot in the poll, followed by Alfred State in second.

Placing ahead of La Roche in the top five are Penn State Behrend and Mount Aloysius.

Pitt-Greensburg earned the sixth spot in the rankings and rounding out the order are Carlow, Pitt-Bradford and Hilbert.

La Roche's regular season begins on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 1 p.m. as the Redhawks welcome Penn State Shenango for the home opener inside the Kerr Fitness Center.