Wingate Earns Top Spot in 2021-22 South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Preseason Poll

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – For the 16^th consecutive year, Wingate, is selected to win the South Atlantic Conference with 11 first-place votes and 155 points, according to the 2021-22 South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll. 

The Bulldogs went 11-1 overall in the 2021 spring season, including 8-1 in the SAC, winning the spring season title. The Bulldogs went on to win two matches in the AVCA National Championships against Flagler and Hillsdale to end the season.   

Anderson, coming in at No.2 in the poll collected 146 total points and two first-place votes. The Trojans finished off the 2021 spring season with a record of 9-3 overall and 7-2 in conference play. 

Coming in at No. 3 with 123 total points was the 2019 SAC champions, Carson-Newman. The Eagles went 7-4 overall and 6-3 in conference play. Queens grabs the No. 4 spot with 117 total points and finished the spring season with a 7-5 record overall and 6-4 record in conference play. 

Not far behind in the No. 5 spot is Lenoir-Rhyne with 107 points, Tusculum at No. 6 with 98 points and Mars Hill with 91 points at No. 7.

Taking the No. 8 spot with 89 points was the Newberry College Wolves followed by Limestone at No. 9 with 72 points, Lincoln Memorial ranked at No. 10 with 61 points and with 51 points at No. 11 was Catawba.

Rounding out the poll at No. 12, and No. 13 were Coker and UVA Wise with 36 and 24 points respectively.

Accompanying the release of the preseason poll was the announcement of the 2021-22 SAC Volleyball Preseason All-Conference teams. Selected by the league's media relations directors, the preseason all-conference teams feature four players from Wingate, three from Anderson, two players each from Newberry, Mars Hill, Tusculum and Carson-Newman. Lenoir-Rhyne added one player to round out the all-conference teams. 

The 2021-22 SAC Women's Volleyball season will commence on September 7th, with the SAC Championship being held mid-November at the Rock Hill Sport & Event Center. 

2021 SAC Volleyball Preseason Poll

2021 SAC Volleyball PRESEASON All-Conference 

First Team 

Taylor Prall, Lenoir-Rhyne 

Shannon Kasprak, Wingate 

Sophie Schaff, Wingate 

Natasha Bannister, Newberry 

Jana Cuk, Mars Hill 

Maya Learmonth, Anderson 

Regan Duty, Anderson 

Ully Martins, Mars Hill (L) 

Second Team 

Peyton Gash, Tusculum 

Reese Blackley, Wingate 

Carli Pigza, Tusculum 

Madison Roy, Anderson 

Zoe Dinkins, Newberry 

Erin Edwards, Carson-Newman 

Maggie Young, Wingate 

Hayden Barton, Carson-Newman (L)

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