Wingate Takes No. 1 Spot in South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Preseason Poll
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – For the 17th consecutive year Wingate, is selected to win the South Atlantic Conference Title with six first-place votes and 136 points, according to the 2022 South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The Bulldogs went 24-5 overall in the 2021 season, including 15-3 in the SAC earning them a share of the regular season title with Tusculum and Anderson. The Bulldogs fell to Anderson in the SAC semifinals in a five-set thriller, but were selected to represent the SAC in the NCAA DII Tournament. They made it all the way to the NCAA Southeast Region Semifinals where they took an eventual loss to the reigning SAC Champions, Lenoir-Rhyne.
Tusculum comes in at No. 2 in the poll with three first-place votes and 127 total points from the leagues head coaches. The Pioneers finished off the 2021 season with a record of 20-6 overall and 15-3 in conference play. They finished with an identical record to Wingate allowing them a share in the conference title. The Pioneers fell to Lenoir-Rhyne in the SAC semifinals to then go on to earn the No. 3 seed in the NCAA DII Southeast Tournament where they fell to Augusta in the first round.
The No. 3 spot went to the SAC Tournament Runner-up team the Anderson Trojans who earned 125 votes and two first-place votes. The Trojans also shared a piece of the 2021 SAC Regular Season Title and made an appearance in the NCAA DII Tournament.
Coming in at No. 4 with 111 total points and two first place votes are the 2021 SAC Tournament Champions the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears. The Bears went 24-8 overall and 14-4 in conference play and were named the No. 1 seed in the NCAA DII Southeast Tournament where they made it all the way to the final round.
Not far behind in the No. 5 spot is Crason-Newman with 106 points, Mars Hill at No. 6 with 81 points Newberry with 70 points at No. 7. Taking the No. 8 spot with 69 points was the Limestone Saints followed by the Catawba College Indians at No. 9 and 68 total points.
The Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters came in at No. 10 with 48 points, followed by Coker ranked at No. 11 with 35 points and with 21 points at No. 12 was UVA Wise. Rounding out the poll at the No. 13 spot is the newest member in the league with 17 points, Emory and Henry.
Accompanying the release of the preseason poll was the announcement of the 2022 SAC Volleyball Preseason All-Conference teams. Selected by the league's media relations directors, the preseason all-conference teams feature four players from Tusculum and Anderson, three from Mars Hill and Wingate, two players each from Lenoir-Rhyne and Carson-Newman and one from Emory and Henry.
The 2022 SAC Women's Volleyball season will commence on August 26th, with the SAC Championship being held Nov. 7, 11 and 12 at the Rock Hill Sport & Event Center.
2022 SAC Volleyball Preseason Poll
Rank School (First Place Votes) Score
1. Wingate (6) 136
2. Tusculum (3) 127
3. Anderson (2) 125
4. Lenoir-Rhyne (2) 111
5. Carson-Newman 106
6. Mars Hill 81
7. Newberry 70
8. Limestone 69
9. Catawba 68
10. Lincoln Memorial 48
11. Coker 35
12. UVA Wise 21
13. Emory & Henry 17
2022 SAC Volleyball PRESEASON All-Conference
First Team
Emiah Burrowes, Tusculum
Shannon Kasprak, Wingate
Julia Wheeler, Carson-Newman
Sarah Goddard, Mars Hill
Madison Roy, Anderson
Noelle Knutsen, Anderson
Carly Sosnowski, Tusculum (L)
Second Team
Jana Cuk, Mars Hill
Maggie Young, Wingate
Carli Pigza, Tusculum
Jaelyn Grimm, Anderson
Elise Carmichael, Tusculum
Colette Romp, Lenoir-Rhyne
Third Team
Molly Lambillotte, Wingate
Sadie Kluner, Anderson
Carley Williams, Emory & Henry
Emma Clark, Lenoir-Rhyne
Abbey Hildenbrand, Carson-Newman
Jordan Schmucker, Mars Hill