The Pitt-Bradford volleyball team was selected seventh in the AMCC preseason poll released earlier this month.

Defending champion Franciscan was picked to repeat, narrowly edging out Penn State Altoona, who captured the league's regular season title. Penn State Behrend, Medaille and La Roche rounded out the top five, and Mount Aloysius finished one spot ahead of Pitt-Bradford in the poll.

The Panthers will look to return to the AMCC playoffs in 2016 after missing out last year, snapping a streak of eight consecutive appearances. Leading the way for the Blue and Gold will be sophomore Kirsten Platz and senior Christina Rauh. Platz, the reigning AMCC Newcomer of the Year, ranked third in the league in kills and blocks while earning second-team all-conference honors at middle hitter. Rauh, a setter, was among the AMCC leaders in assists and service aces per set and named to the Lycoming and Scranton all-tournament teams.

Pitt-Bradford opens the season Friday, Sept. 2, at the Moravian College Greyhound Premiere Invitational with a pair of matches against Ursinus and Alvernia. The Panthers will play 13 of their first 14 matches away from the KOA Arena. The first home match is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 15, against Houghton.