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[udisit19]

Duquesne would have to be a contender for 3rd place in the A-10 too, but they graduate even more than SLU and GW. DUQ graduates a good middle in Abbie Trzeciak and a great all around OH in Molly Davet.

I think DUQ returns some good players too. Camryn Vacera is a great Libero (she can make the case for best in A-10) and Maria Mosbocher was a strong OH as a freshman last year. Duquesne has coaching stability, a returning Junion setter, and a consistently good defense on their side. They should be able to make the A-10 tournament, but at the same time, it feels like this is the most questions they have had at the start of the year in a while.

If I had to guess, I see teams like SLU/DUQ/ and RI all sliding a little bit due to a loss of experience while I see the lower teams like GW/FOR/LAS/DAV and even GM growing due to key players gaining experience. I think DAY and VCU will be extremely competitive at the top while the bottom of the A-10 will be a free for all. Predicting the 5th and 6th slots of the A-10 tournament will be difficult. You can make a case for most teams (GM may need to get lucky to end in 6th place but I think they will improve too), but each team has a serious flaw. Part of me like the progress Fordham has made, but despite their great right side hitter Olivia Fairchild, Fordham has new leadership from a new head coach. Davidson has a great MH in Ellie Crosley, but they are not strong at the OH position. Serving is becoming a strength for La Salle, but they don't have anyone with more than 0.65 blocks per set.

The bottom of the A-10 will see a lot of competing styles, but it should be great competition. I think we would rather see a strong 3rd or 4th team, but I'm not sure we will see that this year. I hope I'm wrong, but we may have to wait one more year while the bottom of the A-10 rebuilds.

	Fordham FORDHAM Fordham University is an independent Jesuit university established in 1841 as St. John's College on old Rose Hill Manor in the village of Fordham, then part of Westchester County in the Bronx, NY. The name Fordham is derived from the Anglo-Saxon words "ford" and "ham," meaning a wading place or ford by a settlement. Rose Hill is the name given to the site in 1787 by Robert Watts, a wealthy New York merchant, in honor of his family's ancestral home of the same name in Scotland. The College was originally staffed by diocesan clergy. The name was officially changed to Fordham University in 1907. Fordham's 10 schools enroll 14,448 students. There are 7,652 undergraduates, of whom 3,842 live in University-managed housing either on-campus or in the local community. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Rams. Athletic claim to fame is consistent mediocrity in nearly all sports and few A10 title winning programs.

	Duquesne DUQUESNE Duquesne University is a private, coeducational university, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania located on 48 secluded acres, on a bluff above downtown. Founded in 1878 as a Catholic college by the Order of the Holy Spirit. It is the only Spiritan institution of higher education in the world. Duquesne offers 10 schools of study and 100 degree programs to 6,000 undergraduates and 3,800 graduate students. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Dukes.

	LaSalle LA SALLE In 1863, La Salle University was established through the legacy of St. John Baptist de La Salle and the Christian Brothers teaching order, which De La Salle founded 300 years ago. Located in Philadelphia, La Salle is an educational community shaped by traditional Catholic and Lasallian values. La Salle's main campus is an ideal place for students to pursue an education. The 130-acre park-like setting includes 54 buildings and is located approximately six miles from Center City Philadelphia. The University can accommodate 2,114 resident students in its 12 residence halls, two apartment complexes, and 75 townhouses. Fellow members of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Explorers. Notable athletes include Tom Gola and Lionel Simmons.

	Saint Louis SAINT LOUIS Saint Louis University is a Jesuit, Catholic university ranked among the top research institutions in the nation. The University fosters the intellectual and character development of more than 12,700 students. Founded in 1818, it is the oldest university west of the Mississippi and the second oldest Jesuit university in the United States. Located in St. Louis, MO, and just five minutes from the Gateway Arch, SLU offers 85 undergraduate programs and over 50 graduate study tracks. Over 99% of the SLU faculty hold the highest degree in their respective fields. Fellow member of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Billikens, but also commonly known as "Sloo", the phonetic pronunciation of the school's initials. Athletic claims to fame include multiple national titles in men's soccer and men's basketball star Larry Hughes.