Richard Stockton College has been selected as the favorite to win the 2005 New Jersey Athletic Conference Volleyball Championship in a preseason poll of the league’s eight head coaches. The 2004 NJAC runners-up will be seeking their fourth conference crown since 1996 and their first since the 2000 season.

The Ospreys finished the 2004 season with a 25-9 overall record and advanced to the NJAC Tournament Championship Match. Stockton also earned a postseason bid to the 2004 ECAC South Tournament. The Ospreys received five-of-the-eight first place votes cast by the coaches. Under the direction of seventh-year head coach Eric Illjes, Stockton has posted an overall record of 130-81.  

The Ospreys return two all-conference players including the 2004 NJAC Player of the Year in senior outside hitter Whitney Verduin. In addition, Stockton returns an all-conference senior setter in Kate Hahn.  

Rutgers University-Newark, the 2003 NJAC Champions, placed second in the poll and received two first place votes. The Scarlet Raiders finished third in the 2004 NJAC regular season with a 4-3 league mark. One year earlier, Newark posted a 25-9 overall record en route to the NJAC Championship and a berth in the 2003 NCAA Tournament. Under the leadership of sixth-year head coach Sean Byron, the Raiders return the reigning NJAC Rookie of the Year in sophomore outside hitter Allison Becker. In addition, Rutgers-Newark will return 2003 all-conference outside hitter Robin Pearce, who missed the entire 2004 season due to injury.

William Paterson University was tapped to place third and received one first place vote in the poll. Led by 27th-year head coach Sandy Ferrarella, the Pioneers have posted an overall record of 446-272 during her tenure. Paterson returns one all-conference player from a squad that finished the 2004 campaign with a 24-10 overall record in senior outside hitter Lauren Shears.  

Ramapo College, which is led by first-year head coach Robert Pichardo, placed fourth in the poll. The Roadrunners return one all-conference player in senior middle blocker Samantha Wejnert.

The coaches' dark horse selection, New Jersey City University, was selected to finish fifth. After a one-year stint as an NCAA Division III Independent, the Gothic Knights will return to the NJAC in 2005. Led by second-year head coach Chris Feliciano, NJCU will return sophomore middle blocker Lizzelle Cintron, who led all of NCAA Division III in kills in 2004. Feliciano guided his squad to a 30-6 overall record last season and an appearance in the ECAC South Tournament. 

Kean University, led by 18th-year head coach Bridget White, was tapped to place sixth. During her tenure at Kean, White has guided the Cougars to an overall record of 311-239.  

Montclair State University, led by first-year head coach Karin Harvey, was selected to place seventh. The Red Hawks finished sixth in the 2004 regular season but advanced to the semifinals of the NJAC Tournament with a first round victory over Rutgers-Newark.

Under the direction of sixth-year head coach Joe Gillespie, Rutgers University-Camden was picked to place eighth. The Scarlet Raptors return a three-time Rookie of the Week selection in 2004 in sophomore outside hitter Julie Grochowski.  

NJAC league play will get underway on Tuesday, September 13 when six league teams will be in action.

The top six regular season finishers will advance to the 2005 NJAC Championship Tournament, with all matches played at the sight of the highest seed. The NJAC Tournament first round will take place on Tuesday, November 1 with the first and second-seeded team receiving byes. The league semifinals will be held on Thursday, November 3, and the 2005 NJAC Championship Match will take place on Saturday, November 5. 

The NJAC Tournament Champion receives the conference's automatic qualification to the NCAA National Championship Tournament.