RICHMOND, Va. -- The University of Delaware baseball team has been picked ninth in the Colonial Athletic Association preseason poll as selected in a vote by the league's head coaches.

James Madison, which captured its first CAA title last season, opens the 2009 campaign as the preseason favorite after receiving six first-place votes and 95 points overall. George Mason came in second with 91 points and was chosen as the favorite on four ballots, while UNC Wilmington garnered one first-place vote and 86 total points.

Georgia State earned the fourth spot in the preseason rankings with 61 points and was followed closely by William & Mary who earned 58. Towson (48), Virginia Commonwealth (42), Old Dominion (39), Delaware (38), Northeastern (37), and Hofstra (10) rounded out the standings.

The Blue Hens return a strong nucleus of players from last year's team that went 22-31, including 11-17 in conference action. Delaware eventually finished the 2008 season ninth in the CAA after coming within one game of winning the 2007 conference championship.

Ryan Reed, who was named the Pape Lukk/UD Alumni Association Team MVP, returns for his senior season after having a breakout junior campaign. Last year, he started 46 games and hit .299 with five home runs and 25 RBI while playing sturdy defense behind the plate.

Along with Reed, the Blue Hens also welcome back Ryan Cuneo (above) and Kyle Davis, who were honored as the team's offensive and defensive players of the year last season. Cuneo posted a team-leading .351 batting average and orchestrated a 24-game hitting streak during the year. The junior first baseman eventually finished with 54 hits, 48 RBI, and 30 runs scored.

Davis, who will serve as a senior co-captain on this year's squad, spent the entire 2008 season as the team's lead-off hitter. Consistently productive, he hit .292 and led the team with 22 doubles. A strong defender, he also anchored Delaware's infield defense after splitting time between second base and shortstop.

The Blue Hens will kick off the 2009 season with a four-game series at Longwood from February 20-22. The series opener is set for Friday at 1 p.m.

AGATE:

1. James Madison (6) 95
2. George Mason (4) 91
3. UNC Wilmington (1) 86
4. Georgia State 61
5. William and Mary 58
6. Towson 48
7. VCU 42
8. Old Dominion 39
9. Delaware 38
10. Northeastern 37
11. Hofstra 10