1/16/2008 -

The Dolphins were picked first in the Skyline Conference preseason poll.

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The College of Mount Saint Vincent Men’s Volleyball team has been picked as the favorite in the first ever season of Skyline Conference Men’s Volleyball. The Dolphins received 15 points, including three first place votes to edge Polytechnic who was picked second in the poll voted on by the league's five head coaches.

The Fighting Blue Jays got 13 points with two first place nods, with Bard picked third with 11 total points. Rounding out the five team league are Purchase with seven points and Yeshiva with four points.

The Dolphins are coming off a 2007 campaign that saw them finish with a 13-16 overall record. The Mount was led by Arnold Ross (Wilton, ME) who had 306 kills (3.26 per game) and T.J. Pufahl (Bethpage, NY) who showed 305 kills (3.28). Also returning in 2008 is assists leader Chris Dotoratos (Bronx, NY) who paced the Dolphins with 984 helpers, good for 10.58 per game.

On the defensive side, Ross is the top returnee in digs, as he finished with 285 total digs last season. Pufahl enters the 2008 season as the top returnee in blocks, as he stuffed 62 a season ago.

The Mount opened the season on January 14 with an impressive 3-0 win at Polytechnic. Freshman David Guerrero (East Meadow, NY) led the charge with 19 kills and seven service aces. Classmate Mike Quinn (Wantagh, NY) contributed 27 assists and three aces in the win.

At 1-0 on the season, the Mount will be back in action on Thursday, January 17 at Hunter. The match is set to begin at 6:00 p.m.