New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) announced Thursday the conference coach's preseason poll for the East and West SUNYAC Division. SUNY New Paltz, two-time reigning conference champions, was voted No. 1 of the East Division entering this spring.
 
The Hawks haven't lost a SUNYAC match in two years, including postseason play where they defeated SUNY Oneonta in the finals to claim back-to-back titles. The SUNYAC regular season usually takes place in the fall, but was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pushed to this spring. SUNY New Paltz not only looks to claim a third-consecutive conference championship, but make a strong push into the NCAA Tournament as well. 
Following its SUNYAC title in 2018, SUNY New Paltz defeated Husson University in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before seeing its season end to perennial program Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the second round. The Hawks were unable to build off that success following their 2019 campaign, as the 2020 NCAA Tournament was canceled due to the pandemic.
 
The SUNYAC recently announced its plan for a spring sports schedule. To limit travel, the conference was divided into an East and West division with each team playing a home-and-home series. SUNY Cortland, SUNY Oneonta and SUNY Plattsburgh in the East Division accompany the Hawks, while the West consists of SUNY Geneseo, The College at Brockport, Oswego State, Fredonia State and Buffalo State. The Knights were voted as the SUNYAC coach's preseason poll No. 1 in the West Division.
 
To read more about the Hawks' SUNYAC Divisional schedule click here.
 
To read the SUNYAC's official press release on the preseason coach's poll, click here.

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