MEDIA DAY: Countdown to 2016 Tournament in RVA Underway....

All fourteen head coaches, the league commissioner, Richmond Coliseum officials, and members of the media all gathered Wednesday as the Atlantic 10 began its 40th anniversary celebration for women's basketball with Media Day at the Richmond Downtown Marriott.

Along with the opportunity to preview the 2015-16 season, the league announced its preseason poll, as defending regular season and tournament champion George Washington, who return four starters, received twelve of fourteen first place votes to sit atop the survey.

Perennial league power Dayton, who advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual champion Connecticut, received the other two first place votes and was voted second overall. The Flyers must replace two players that were drafted last spring by the WNBA: Andrea Hoover and Ally Malott.

Duquesne, despite having seven freshmen on their roster, placed third, followed by 2014 tournament champion Fordham and the rising Billikens of Saint Louis, the only team to beat George Washington last year in conference play.

Local teams Richmond and VCU were voted sixth and tenth respectively.

Below are the poll and preseason teams announced today.

PRESEASON POLL:
1) George Washington (12)  194
2) Dayton (2)                       177
3) Duquesne                       154
4) Fordham                         132
5) Saint Louis                      126
6) Richmond                        118
7) Saint Joseph's                 116
8) Rhode Island                   113
9) St. Bonaventure                90
10) VCU                               89
11) George Mason                57
12) La Salle                          52
13) UMass                            34
14) Davidson                        18

FIRST TEAM:
Guard: Amber Deane, Senior, Dayton
Guard: Taylor Brown, Redshirt Senior, George Mason
Forward: Jonquel Jones, Senior, George Washington
Forward: Caira Washington, Junior, George Washington
Forward: Katie Healy, Senior, St. Bonaventure

SECOND TEAM:
Guard: Kelley Austria, Senior, Dayton
Guard: April Robinson, Senior, Duquesne
Guard: Charise Wilson, Sophomore, Rhode Island
Guard: Janelle Hubbard, Junior, Richmond
Center: Sadie Stipanovich, Junior, Saint Louis

THIRD TEAM:
Center: Jodie Cornelie-Sigmundova, Senior, Dayton
Forward: Samantha Clark, Senior, Fordham
Forward: Micahya Owens, Junior, La Salle
Guard: Ciara Andrews, Senior, Saint Joseph's
Guard/Forward: Adaeze Alaeze, Senior, VCU

ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM:
Guard: Kelley Austria, Senior, Dayton
Center: Jodie Cornelle-Sigmundova, Senior, Dayton
Forward: Jonquel Jones, Senior, George Washington
Guard: Jasmine Alston, Junior, La Salle
Guard: Jamesia Price, Redshirt Senior, Saint Louis