Johnson named to preseason All-SAC First Team
Senior middle hitter Sally Anne Johnson was named to the 2019 preseason All-South Atlantic Conference First Team while the Lions were selected seventh in the preseason poll.
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – For the 14thconsecutive year, Wingate, is selected to win the South Atlantic Conference with 10 first-place votes and 131 points, according to the 2019 South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The Bulldogs went 32-2 overall in the 2018 regular season, including 19-1 in the SAC, winning the regular season title and the SAC Volleyball Championship. The Bulldogs then won the NCAA Division ll Southeast Regional Championship and advanced to the NCAA Division II National Quarterfinals in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Anderson, coming in at No.2 in the poll, collected the remaining first-place votes and 121 total points. The Trojans finished off the 2018 season with a record of 28-6 overall and 17-3 in conference play. Like Wingate, they too earned a bid to the NCAA Division ll Southeast Region Championship last season.
Tied at No. 3 with 104 total points, are Lincoln Memorial and Carson-Newman. The Railsplitters took third place in the regular season going 20-10 overall in 2018. They landed in the SAC Volleyball Championship against Wingate, falling just short of the title. They also made an appearance in the NCAA Division ll Southeast Regional. The Eagles took fifth place in the regular season at 16-13 overall and 11-9 conference play.
Queens grabs the No. 5 spot with 90 total points, not far behind in No. 6 is Lenoir-Rhyne, coming in at 87 points and Mars Hill with 67 points at No. 7.
With another tie, Tusculum and Catawba take the No. 8 spot, each with a total of 51 points. Coker holds the No. 10 spot with 49 points, Newberry with 46 points at No. 11 and UVa-Wise closes out this years' coaches' poll at No. 12 with 23 total points.
Accompanying the release of the preseason poll was the announcement of the 2019 SAC Volleyball Preseason All-Conference teams. Selected by the league's media relations directors, the preseason all-conference teams feature three players from both Anderson and Queens, two players from Lincoln Memorial, Carson-Newman and Lenoir-Rhyne and a single player from Wingate, Coker, Mars Hill, Newberry, and UVa-Wise.
The 2019 SAC Women's Volleyball season will commence on September 6, with all SAC teams making their debuts.
2019 Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
|
Rank |
School (First Place Votes) |
Points |
|
1. |
Wingate (10) |
131 |
|
2. |
Anderson (2) |
121 |
|
T-3. |
Lincoln Memorial |
104 |
|
T-3. |
Carson-Newman |
104 |
|
5. |
Queens |
90 |
|
6. |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
87 |
|
7. |
Mars Hill |
67 |
|
T-8. |
Tusculum |
51 |
|
T-8. |
Catawba |
51 |
|
10. |
Coker |
49 |
|
11. |
Newberry |
46 |
|
12. |
UVa-Wise |
23 |
2019 SAC VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE
First Team
Emily Conlin, Anderson
Rachel Alles, Wingate
Rylee Storms, Lincoln Memorial
Taylor du Bray, Coker
Casey Tarvin, Queens
Sally Anne Johnson, Mars Hill
Hailee Wilhelm, Anderson
Morgan Ballard, Carson-Newman (L)
Second Team
Megan Oldenburger, Carson-Newman
Zoe Dinkins, Newberry
Taylor Prall, Lenoir-Rhyne
Regan Duty, Anderson
Logan Witt, Queens
Jaclyn Denny, Lenoir-Rhyne
Emily Walter, Lincoln Memorial
Ciara Kain, UVa-Wise
Jaycee Jones, Queens (L)