Wingate Voted as SAC Volleyball Preseason Favorites in 2025 Coaches' Poll
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The Wingate Bulldogs have once again been selected as the preseason favorites in the 2025 South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Volleyball Coaches' Poll, marking another chapter in the program's dominant tradition. The Bulldogs received 10 of the 12 possible first-place votes, earning 109 total points to lead the rankings for the 20th consecutive season.
Lenoir-Rhyne earned one first-place vote and totaled 97 points to land second, while Anderson followed closely in third with 89 points and the final first-place vote.
Carson-Newman (76 points) and Lincoln Memorial (71 points) round out the top five, both looking to build on strong finishes from last season. Mars Hill sits in sixth with 64 points, while Tusculum checks in at seventh with 49 points.
UVA Wise (32), Newberry (27), and Catawba (26) hold the eighth through tenth spots, respectively. Coker (21) and Emory & Henry (11) complete the poll.
In addition to the preseason rankings, the league announced the 2025 Preseason All-Conference Team, featuring ten standout student-athletes from across the conference. Wingate led all programs with four selections, including returners Emily Johnson, Sydney Morland, Maya Van Heyst, and Gabby Saye.
Lenoir-Rhyne followed with Kayli Cleaver and Averie Dale, while Anderson placed Ellie Nieporte and Emily Campbell on the list. Maddie Hurst (Carson-Newman) and Laela Jimenez (Mars Hill) rounded out the squad.
The league also released its list of Players to Watch, spotlighting emerging talent and key returners across all 12 SAC programs. The group includes impactful hitters, experienced setters, and versatile liberos expected to play key roles this fall.
2025 SAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
|
Rank |
School (First-Place Votes) |
Points |
|
1. |
Wingate (10) |
109 |
|
2. |
Lenoir-Rhyne (1) |
97 |
|
3. |
Anderson (1) |
89 |
|
4. |
Carson-Newman |
76 |
|
5. |
Lincoln Memorial |
71 |
|
6. |
Mars Hill |
64 |
|
7. |
Tusculum |
49 |
|
8. |
UVA Wise |
32 |
|
9. |
Newberry |
27 |
|
10. |
Catawba |
26 |
|
11. |
Coker |
21 |
|
12. |
Emory & Henry |
11 |
2025 Preseason All-Conference Team
- Kayli Cleaver, Lenoir-Rhyne
- Averie Dale, Lenoir-Rhyne
- Maddie Hurst, Carson-Newman
- Laela Jimenez, Mars Hill
- Emily Johnson, Wingate
- Sydney Morland, Wingate
- Maya Van Heyst, Wingate
- Gabby Saye, Wingate
- Ellie Nieporte, Anderson
- Emily Campbell, Anderson
Players to Watch
Anderson
- Ava Reeves, Jr., OH
Carson-Newman
- Blair Cherry, Jr., S
- Emerson Ahsmuhs, So., OH
Catawba
- Martina Foster, Sr., MB
- Riley Hill, Jr., Libero
- Katrina Misra, Jr., OH
Coker
- Meadow Morse, Gr., Libero
- Cayla Gilmore, So., RS
- Hazar Kayan, Sr., OH
Emory & Henry
- Gracyn Miller, Sr., MB
- Logan Newberry, Sr., S
- Grace Duey, Jr., OH
Lenoir-Rhyne
- Brooke Aeschliman, So., OH
Lincoln Memorial
- Lauren Pickett, Jr., S
- Lauren Jacob, So., Libero
- Carley Raleigh, RS-So., S
Mars Hill
- Ioana Poenaru, Jr., OH
- Alyssa Kornegay, So., S
Newberry
- Madison Watson, Sr., MB
- Anna Schneider, Jr., OH
- Sam Shaffer, Sr., RS
Tusculum
- Addison McLarty, So., OH
- Jaida Alvin, Jr., OH
- Breana Pelbath, Jr., MB
UVA Wise
- Abigail Curtis, Jr., DS/L
- Morgan Blankenship, Jr., OH/RS
- Riley Brandon, Jr., S/OH