PROVIDENCE, R.I. - After totaling 59 points and three first-place votes, Eastern Connecticut State University was named the favorite to take home the 2021 Little East Conference (LEC) title in the 2021 LEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
 
The Warriors return three 2019 all-LEC selections from a team that went 14-12 overall and earned a share of the LEC regular season title at 6-2 in league play. That group is led by middle blocker Anna Barry, who is the reigning LEC Offensive Player of the Year and was a First Team all-LEC pick. Abby Stern was also a First-Team all-LEC selection in 2019, while libero Madison Bell was a Second-Team all-LEC honoree.
 
Defending LEC tournament champion UMass Boston landed in second-place in the 2021 LEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll with 57 total points, and also secured three first-place votes. The Beacons were 12-19 overall in 2019 and were seeded fifth in the LEC tournament, where they pulled out three straight upset victories to claim the conference crown. They return a pair of Second-Team all-LEC selections from the squad in setter Carsen Komminsk and middle hitter Marcelle Tiscareno, and 2019 LEC Championship Tournament Most Outstanding Player Emilia Czapiewska.
 
The complete preseason coaches’ poll ranking is as follows:
 
2021 LEC Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll (FPV)
1. Eastern Connecticut - 59 points (3)
2. UMass Boston - 57 points (3)
3. Keene State - 46 points (1)
4. Plymouth State - 45 points (1)
5. Western Connecticut - 43 points (1)
6. Southern Maine - 27 points
7. UMass Dartmouth - 24 points
8. Rhode Island College - 14 points
9. Castleton - 9 points
 
NOTE: Coaches are not permitted to vote for their own program.