Wingate Claims Top Spot In SAC Volleyball Preseason Poll For 18th Year
Wingate Claims Top Spot In SAC Volleyball Preseason Poll For 18th Year
For the 18th consecutive year, the Wingate Bulldogs are selected to win the South Atlantic Conference Title with 11 first-place votes and 140 points.
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!
— Wingate Bulldogs (@WU_Bulldogs) August 12, 2023
Day 1️⃣ of practice for the defending SAC & Region champs! #OneDog | @WingateVB pic.twitter.com/Sc0DTCKpNb
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 🏐
— South Atlantic Conference (@SAC_Athletics) August 16, 2023
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
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
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