Wingate Named Preseason Favorites; Preseason All-Conference Announced
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – For a 19th straight season, the Wingate Bulldogs have been tabbed the preseason favorites in the 2024 SAC Coaches' Poll as announced by the league this morning. Wingate claimed the 2023 regular season crown with a 17-1 record. However, it was Tusculum who won the SAC Tournament, the first in program history, by topping Wingate 3-1 in the championship match.
The Bulldogs earned 11 first place votes and earned 143 points in the coaches poll.
Trailing Wingate is Anderson who earned the final two first place votes and 126 points. Anderson finished the year with a 28-6 mark and a 16-2 in league play.
Lenoir-Rhyne was voted third with 120 points, just six behind the Trojans. The Bears went to the NCAA Tournament in 2023 but fell to the Bulldogs in the first round. LR is looking for its third trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2021.
Coming in at fourth in the poll is the defending SAC Champion Tusculum Pioneers. Under first-year head coach Hannah Barrett the Pioneers earned 109 points.
At the number five spot is Carson-Newman with 93 points, followed closely by Catawba with 93 points.
Mars Hill earned 82 points to place seventh and Limestone was predicted to finish eighth with 66 points. Rounding out the poll are Lincoln Memorial, Newberry, Emory & Henry, UVA Wise and Coker.
In addition to the coaches' poll, the league announced the Preseason All-Conference team as voted on by the league's Media Relations Directors. Wingate, Lenoir-Rhyne and Mars Hill led the way with two first-team selections apiece.
2024 Preseason Coaches' Poll
|
Rank |
School (First Place Votes) |
Score |
|
1. |
Wingate (11) |
143 |
|
2. |
Anderson (2) |
126 |
|
3. |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
120 |
|
4. |
Tusculum |
109 |
|
5. |
Carson-Newman |
96 |
|
6. |
Catawba |
93 |
|
7. |
Mars Hill |
82 |
|
8. |
Limestone |
68 |
|
9. |
Lincoln Memorial |
51 |
|
10. |
Newberry |
44 |
|
11. |
Emory & Henry |
38 |
|
12. |
UVA Wise |
32 |
|
13. |
Coker |
12 |
2024 Preseason All-Conference
First Team
Emmaleigh Allen, Lenoir-Rhyne
Laela Jimenez, Mars Hill (L)
Kathy Peter, Lenoir-Rhyne
Emily Johnson, Wingate
Katilyn Grant, Mars Hill
Brantley Chipley, Anderson
Kristen Moehring, Lincoln Memorial
Gabby Saye, Wingate
Second Team
Riley Hill, Catawba (L)
Madison Adkins, Tusculum
Sydney Karjala, Lenoir-Rhyne
Tatum Riddle, Limestone
Kaylee Scarce, UVA Wise
Sydney Morland, Wingate
Mia McMillen, Limestone
Jordan Danielson, Catawba
Third Team
Lyndsie Warren, Lenoir-Rhyne (L)
Martina Foster, Tusculum
Grace Duey, Emory & Henry
Lorna Stacherski, Wingate
Whitney Thompson, Tusculum
Olivia Crowl, Tusculum
Cassidy Farley, UVA Wise
Kelcie Love, Catawba