Wingate Claims No. 1 Spot in South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Preseason Poll; Preseason All-Conference Teams Announced

Wingate Claims No. 1 Spot in South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Preseason Poll; Preseason All-Conference Teams Announced
August 16, 2023

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – For the 18th consecutive year, Wingate is selected to win the South Atlantic Conference Title with 11 first-place votes and 140 points, according to the 2023 South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll.

The Bulldogs went 32-3 overall in the 2022 season, including 17-1 in the SAC, and were crowned the 2022 SAC Volleyball Champions. They won the NCAA Southeast Regional after defeating USC Aiken (3-1), Lander (3-1), and Flagler (3-0). The Bulldogs fell in the National Championship to No. 9 West Texas, 2-3.

SAC Tournament Runner-Up Carson-Newman comes in at No. 2 in the poll with two first-place votes and 130 total points from the leagues head coaches. The Eagles finished off the 2022 season with a record of 27-6 overall and 16-2 in conference play. The Eagles fell to Wingate in the SAC Championship finals, 3-0. After earning a bid to the NCAA DII Tournament, they fell to Flagler, 3-0.

The No. 3 spot went to the Anderson Trojans who earned 120 points. The Trojans finished the 2022 season 21-8 overall and 13-5 in conference play. After falling to Wingate in the SAC Volleyball Championships Semifinals, the Trojans earned a bid to the NCAA DII Tournament and were defeated by Lander in the NCAA Southeast Regional 3-1.

Coming in at No. 4 with 112 total points are the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears. The Bears went 18-9 overall and 13-5 in conference play after falling to Tusculum 0-3 in the SAC Volleyball Championships Quarterfinals.

Not far behind in the No. 5 spot is Tusculum with 100 points and Mars Hill at No. 6 with 92 points. Newberry landed at No. 7 with 69 points, Catawba earned No. 8 with 66 points, and Limestone followed at No. 9 with 65 points. Rounding out the group is Lincoln Memorial at No. 10 with 46 points, Emory & Henry at No. 11 with 30 points, and Coker and UVA Wise tied for 12th with 22 points.

Accompanying the release of the preseason poll was the announcement of the 2023 SAC Volleyball Preseason All-Conference teams. Selected by the league's media relation directors, the Preseason All-Conference teams feature four players from Wingate, three from Carson-Newman, Anderson, and Lincoln Memorial, two players each from Tusculum, Mars Hill, Newberry, and Limestone, and one from Lenoir-Rhyne, Coker, and UVA Wise.

The 2023 SAC Volleyball Championship will be held November 13-15, with semifinals and finals being held at the Rock Hill Sports & Events Center.

 

2023 SAC Volleyball Preseason Poll

Rank School (First Place Votes) Score

  1. Wingate (11) 140
  2. Carson-Newman (2) 130
  3. Anderson 120
  4. Lenoir-Rhyne 112
  5. Tusculum 100
  6. Mars Hill 92
  7. Newberry 69
  8. Catawba 66
  9. Limestone 65
  10. Lincoln Memorial 46
  11. Emory & Henry 30
  12. Coker 22
  13. UVA Wise 22

 

2023 SAC Volleyball Preseason All-Conference

First Team

Emiah Burrowes, Tusculum

Emily Johnson, Wingate

Maggie Young, Wingate

Laela Jimenez, Mars Hill (L)

Julia Wheeler, Carson-Newman

Emmagrace Cobb, Carson-Newman

Blake Cherry, Carson-Newman

Jaelyn Grimm, Anderson

Second Team

Emmaleigh Allen, Lenoir-Rhyne

Jordan Schmucker, Mars Hill

Maggie Mullen, Wingate (L)

Martina Foster, Tusculum

Samantha Shaffer, Newberry

Gabby Saye, Wingate

Rylie Sargent, Anderson

Chelsey Blume, Coker

Third Team

Lindsay McCurley, Anderson (L)

Kristen Moehring, Lincoln Memorial

Tatum Riddle, Limestone

Bailey Conner, UVA Wise

Josie Curran, Limestone

Taylor Hall, Newberry

Ketura Margaret, Lincoln Memorial

Sierrah Lemons, Lincoln Memorial

 

 

 

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