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There is not much doubt about who is the preseason favorite to win the EIVA in 2023.
Penn State received all but one first-place vote to finish atop the EIVA Preseason Poll Coaches Poll that was released Tuesday.
The Nittany Lions ended the 2022 regular season undefeated in conference play and were No. 2 in both the national coaches poll and national media poll but missed the NCAA Tournament after being upset in the conference tournament. Four of the six starters returning for Penn State earned All-American honors last season, including outside attacker Brett Wildman who was named the 2022 EIVA Player of the Year.
NJIT was the only other team to receive a first-place vote in the preseason poll. The EIVA Tournament finalists garnered 29 points – six points fewer than Penn State.
Princeton received 26 points to finish in third place and round out the top half of the poll.
The EIVA season will begin in February and conclude with the six-team conference tournament in April. The winner of the EIVA Tournament will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
2023 EIVA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Penn State – 35 (5) points
2. NJIT – 29 (1) points
3. Princeton – 26 points
4. Charleston – 14 points
5. Harvard – 12 points
6. George Mason – 10 points
EIVA Players to Watch in 2023
As selected by EIVA coaches
Charleston: Luuk Hoge Bavel, Veit Bils
George Mason: Jack Bolz, Omar Hoyos
Harvard: James Bardin, Ethan Smith
NJIT: Jens Feldthus, Martin de Chavarria
Penn State: Toby Ezeonu, Cal Fisher
Princeton: Ben Harrington, Henry Wedbush