Wingate Claims No. 1 Spot in South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Preseason Poll; Preseason All-Conference Teams Announced
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
- Wingate (11) 140
- Carson-Newman (2) 130
- Anderson 120
- Lenoir-Rhyne 112
- Tusculum 100
- Mars Hill 92
- Newberry 69
- Catawba 66
- Limestone 65
- Lincoln Memorial 46
- Emory & Henry 30
- Coker 22
- 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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