Despite the departure of All-American guard Cindy Blodgett and starters Sandi Carver and Klara Danes, the aspirations of the University of Maine women’s basketball team haven’t changed.

The expectations of America East coaches, where Maine is concern, have dipped slightly.

For the first time in five years, coach Joanne Palombo-McCallie’s Black Bears are not the preseason favorites to win the conference title. Vermont was announced as the coaches’ choice during Tuesday’s America East Basketball Media Day at the FleetCenter in Boston.

Coach Keith Cieplicki’s Catamounts, last year’s regular-season champion and tourney runner-up, received five of 10 first-place votes and earned 93 points to beat out Maine, which was second with 89 points and four first-place votes.

Northeastern was third with 81 points, followed by Delaware (57) and New Hampshire (54).

In the America East men’s balloting, defending league champion Delaware was the overwhelming favorite to repeat.

Coach Mike Brey’s Blue Hens tallied 97 points and received eight first-place votes to easily outdistance runner-up Hofstra (83 points, 1 first-place vote) and Boston University (72 points).

Coach John Giannini’s Maine squad was picked fifth with 61 points and one first-place vote. The Bears, who wound up behind No. 4 Drexel (71 points), achieved their highest finish in the poll since 1992, when they were selected No. 2. During that span, Maine had not been picked higher than sixth.

Perhaps it was predictable the UMaine women’s stock would slip a bit, even after making four straight trips to the NCAA Tournament and returning two-time All-Conference selection Jamie Cassidy, who was one of three unanimous picks to this year’s preseason all-conference team along with 1998 Player of the Year Karalyn Church of Vermont and Northeastern’s Tesha Tinsley.

Palombo is certain the vote will inspire her players.

“We’re motivated already relative to the adversity we’ve faced with injuries, not to mention a poll like this,” Palombo said.

UMaine junior Amy Vachon agreed.

“We know people don’t think we’re going to be very good and aren’t expecting us to do what we have done in the past four years,” Vachon said. “We’re not worried about that. We’re all working really hard and we want to prove to ourselves that we’re going to do a very good job this year.”

Maine and Vermont are the only conference teams to be picked No. 1 in this decade. They also are the only teams to have won league championships during the 1990s.

Joining Cassidy, Church and Tinsley on the preseason all-conference squad are New Hampshire forward Orsi Farkas, Delaware guard Cindy Johnson, Northeastern center Betsey Palecek and Towson center Shniece Perry.

Giannini’s Bears broke into the top five in the men’s poll despite a wealth of talent and experience in the league. Among the top six teams from last season, an incredible 27 of 30 starters return.

“I don’t know if getting some decent votes in the preseason poll is as much respect as it is appreciation for the team we’ve put together,” Giannini said. “I think people recognize that outside of Allen Ledbetter, we’ve had to bring a lot of people in who are capable of playing with the top teams in the league and they see this as a team with a lot of potential.”

There is plenty of optimism this season in Orono, where UMaine has welcomed Boston College transfers Andy Bedard and Nate Fox, along with promising freshman Huggy Dye, to a veteran nucleus led by Allen Ledbetter, Fred Meeks and Marcus Wills.

“We should be a team that is significantly improved,” Giannini said. “Last year, Delaware was picked fifth and ended up being the champion. The league was extremely balanced last year, which means it should be even more balanced this year because everybody has gotten older and better. It’s a great challenge and it should make things very exciting for the fans.”

No Black Bears were named to the preseason all-conference team, which is made up of Hartford guard Justin Bailey, Boston University forward Walter Brown, Hofstra guard Craig Claxton, Drexel center Joe Linderman and Delaware forward Mike Pegues.

America East Basketball

Women’s Preseason Poll (first-place votes in parentheses)

1. Vermont (5) 93 pts.

2. Maine (4) 89

3. Northeastern (1) 81

4. Delaware 57

5. New Hampshire 54

6. Hartford 49

7. Towson 41

8. Boston University 36

Drexel 36 10. Hofstra 14

Men’s Preseason Poll

1. Delaware (8) 97 pts.

2. Hofstra (1) 83

3. Boston University 72

4. Drexel 71

5. Maine (1) 61

6. Vermont 57

7. Northeastern 43

8. Hartford 27

9. Towson 21 10. New Hampshire 18