ROCK HILL, S. C. - - UVa-Wise volleyball has been slotted 12th in the South Atlantic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. Redshirt senior Ciara Kain has been named to the Preseason All-Conference Second Team, the league office announced Friday morning.
UVa-Wise received 23 points, as voted on by the league's head coaches, after concluding last season with a 5-25 overall record. The Cavaliers return a bulk of their roster this season led by seniors Briana Kerr, Morgan Milligan, and Kain, and introduce four newcomers to this year's squad.
Kain returns to the court this season after suffering an injury early last year. In her junior campaign, the outside hitter tallied a team-high 369 kills and recorded the second-most digs (317) and third-most blocks (29) on the team. Kain closed out that season as an all-conference second team selection.
Wingate has been tabbed to win the SAC with 10 first-place votes totaling 131 points. Anderson sits at No. 2 while Lincoln Memorial and Carson-Newman are tied at the No. 3 spot. Queens earns the No. 5 spot with Lenoir-Rhyne and Mars Hill coming in at No. 6 and No. 7, respectively. In another tie at the No. 8 spot is Tusculum and Catawba. Coker sits at No. 10 while Newberry and UVa-Wise round out the poll at No. 11 and No. 12, respectively.
The 2019 SAC Women's Volleyball season will commence on September 6 as UVa-Wise travels to Pembroke, N.C. to compete in the UNC Pembroke Invitational. The Cavs will then visit Carson-Newman Friday, Sep. 13 for the conference opener before returning to Wise for the home opener Saturday, Sep. 14 against Lincoln Memorial at 2 p.m.
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
|
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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, AndersonÂ
Morgan Ballard, Carson-Newman (L)
Second Team
Megan Oldenburger, Carson-Newman
Zoe Dinkins, Newberry
Taylor Prall, Lenoir-Rhyne
Regan Duty, AndersonÂ
Logan Witt, QueensÂ
Jaclyn Denny, Lenoir-Rhyne
Emily Walter, Lincoln Memorial
Ciara Kain, UVa-Wise
Jaycee Jones, Queens (L)
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