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