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.

The champs are back!

Day 1️⃣ of practice for the defending SAC & Region champs! #OneDog | @WingateVB pic.twitter.com/Sc0DTCKpNb

— Wingate Bulldogs (@WU_Bulldogs) August 12, 2023

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 league's 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.

𝐕𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐘𝐁𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐋 🏐

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

📄: https://t.co/ZYLQ06ziL5#MakeSACYours #SACVB pic.twitter.com/sUe4omYxBe

— South Atlantic Conference (@SAC_Athletics) August 16, 2023

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

12.  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