RICHMOND, Va. – VCU will begin its quest for a fourth straight Atlantic 10 Conference title as one of the league's preseason favorites.
 
The Rams were picked second in the league's annual preseason coaches poll, released Thursday. The Rams garnered two first-place votes and 87 points. Dayton (98) was selected first and received the other eight first-place votes from league coaches. Saint Louis (84) was picked third, followed by George Washington (65) and Duquesne (46).
 
The Rams welcome 10 newcomers to a program that has captured three consecutive A-10 regular season titles. VCU is 45-3 against conference opponents during that span. The Rams also won the 2017 A-10 Tournament crown and were tournament runners-up in 2018 and 2019. VCU received an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament last season.
 
Led by eighth-year Head Coach Jody Rogers, VCU will open the 2020-21 season, which was been pushed to the spring semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Friday, Jan. 22 at Liberty at 10 a.m. That match can be seen on ESPN+.
 
2020-21 Atlantic 10 Volleyball Preseason Poll
Number in parenthesis indicates first-place votes
1. Dayton - 98 (8)
2. VCU - 87 (2)
3. Saint Louis - 84
4. George Washington - 65
5. Duquesne - 46
6. Davidson - 45
7. Rhode Island - 37
8. La Salle - 36
9. Fordham - 33
10. George Mason – 19