BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University Bears have been picked to finish in fourth place in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) volleyball standings for the 2017 season. The MASCAC Volleyball Preseason Poll was released this week by MASCAC Director of Media Relations, Emily Loux.

In a vote of the league's eight head coaches, Bridgewater tallied 31 points and finished just behing MCLA (32 pts.) in the poll. Defending MASCAC regular season and tournament champion Framingham State University topped all teams with 49 points including seven first place votes. Westfield State University is second with 43 points as the Owls also picked up one first place vote.

Under the guidance of second year head coach Ally Quinn the BSU volleyball team will open the 2017 campaign at Roger Williams Invitational on Friday, September 1st and Saturday, September 2nd.

The Bears' home opener is slated for Wednesday, September 6th at 6:00 PM as non-conference foe Elms College comes to the Tinsley Center.

The MASCAC schedule gets underway on Tuesday, September 12th when the Bears travel to Fitchburg State University for a seven o'clock game with the Falcons.

Last season, Coach Quinn's squad posted an overall record of 11-20 and finished in fourth place in the MASCAC standings with a 3-3 conference mark. Seeded fourth in the MASCAC Tournament, the Bears posted a 3-1 victory over #5 Worcester State University in the quarterfinals before dropping a 3-0 decision to eventual champion Framingham State in the semifinals.

Coach Quinn returns three starters from the 2016 team including All-MASCAC selection, junior libero Cassidy Tyros (Chelmsford, Mass.), as well as junior hitter Elizabeth Roberts (Swansea, Mass.) and junior defensive specialist Alyssa Kelley (Mansfield, Mass.).

The Bears opened preseason camp on Thursday, August 24th.