RICHMOND, Va. – VCU is the Atlantic 10 Conference preseason favorite, according to a poll of the league's head coaches, released Thursday.
 
The Rams, who won the league's regular season crown in 2017 and 2019, garnered 151 points and four first place votes to edge Fordham (149) and Dayton (146). Davidson (117) and Saint Louis (114) rounded out the top five, followed by Richmond (109), Rhode Island (103) and George Washington (74), respectively.
 
Led by 2019 A-10 Coach of the Year Shawn Stiffler, in his ninth season at the helm, VCU returns a veteran core that includes 2019 All-Conference First Team selection Liam Hibbitts, as well as heavy hitting Steven Carpenter (.393 avg., 16 RBIs) at first base and Brandon Henson (.321, 6 HR) in left. Also returning to the rotation this spring are experienced right-handers Michael Dailey (2.28 ERA, 21 Ks) and Justin Sorokowski (1.29 ERA, 21 IP).
 
VCU opens up its 2021 campaign with a three-game set at UNC Wilmington Feb. 20-22.
 
2021 Atlantic 10 Baseball Poll
(parenthesis denotes number of first-place votes)             
1. VCU                                  151 (4)
2. Fordham                          149 (4)
3. Dayton                             146 (4)
4. Davidson                          117
5. Saint Louis                        114 (1)
6. Richmond                         109
7. Rhode Island                    103
8. George Washington         74
9. Saint Joseph's                  71
10. George Mason               46
11. La Salle                           40
12. St. Bonaventure             32
13. Massachusetts               31