Erskine Picked to Take Home 2016 Women's Volleyball Championship
HIGH POINT, N.C. – Erskine College was selected to win the 2016 Conference Carolinas Women’s Volleyball Championship, the league announced today. The Fleet was tabbed to win its second straight conference championship after collecting 10 first-place votes and 100 total points in the preseason poll from conference coaches.
Erskine set a program record for wins in a season after amassing a 23-7 overall record, including a 15-1 mark in Conference Carolinas. The regular season championship was the second consecutive and third in program history, while the Conference Carolinas Women's Volleyball Championship title was the second straight as well. The Fleet also advanced to the NCAA Regionals for the second straight season, upsetting top-seeded USC Aiken in the first round for the program's first NCAA Tournament win.
Southern Wesleyan University, who is entering its first season as a full Division II member, notched one first-place vote and a total of 88 points to land second in the preseason poll. The Warriors turned in an impressive 2015 campaign, which featured a 22-8 overall record and 14-2 Conference Carolinas mark.
Limestone College was picked to finish third after garnering 81 points from coaches. The Saints continued to be one of the top teams in Conference Carolinas in 2015, as they posted double-digit wins for the third straight season and a runner-up performance in the Conference Carolinas Women's Volleyball Championship. Limestone turned in a 19-7 overall record and 11-5 conference mark last season.
After collecting 66 points, King University earned the fourth spot in the preseason poll, while North Greenville University was picked fifth with 60 points.
The Tornado posted a 19-13 overall record in 2015 and compiled an 11-5 Conference Carolinas mark to win the North Division crown. The Crusaders wrapped up the 2015 campaign 22-11 overall and 10-6 in conference play.
Barton College narrowly earned the No. 6 spot after receiving 59 points, followed by Belmont Abbey College in seventh with 54 points.
The Bulldogs turned in a 15-13 record and 9-7 conference mark in 2015. The Crusaders ended up 16-14 overall and 9-7 in Conference Carolinas play in 2015.
Lees-McRae College and University of Mount Olive came in eighth and ninth with 38 and 28 points, respectively.
The Bobcats are coming off an 8-20 overall record in 2015 and saw them post a 7-9 mark in conference. The Trojans turned in a 4-23 record and 3-13 Conference Carolinas record.
Rounding out the poll is Converse College in 10th with 21 points, followed by Pfeiffer University in 11th with 10 points.
The Valkyries turned in a 4-22 overall record and 1-15 Conference Carolinas record in 2015, while the Falcons finished 1-21 overall and 0-16 in conference play.
The 2016 Conference Carolinas women’s volleyball season begins on Friday, Sept. 2.
2016 Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll
| School (first-place votes) |
Total |
| 1. Erskine (10) |
100 |
| 2. Southern Wesleyan (1) |
88 |
| 3. Limestone |
81 |
| 4. King |
66 |
| 5. North Greenville |
60 |
| 6. Barton |
59 |
| 7. Belmont Abbey |
54 |
| 8. Lees-McRae |
38 |
| 9. Mount Olive |
28 |
| 10. Converse |
21
|
| 11. Pfeiffer |
10 |
2016 Conference Carolinas Women's Volleyball Players to Watch:
Outside Hitters (Year):
Mariana Kedzia (Sr.) - Barton
Dani Fortunato (Sr.) - Belmont Abbey
JaLesa Beaver (Sr.) - Converse
Payton Duncan (So.) - Erskine
Cathy Scaniffe (So.) - King
Amy Serowski (Jr.) - King
Rycki Ebert (Jr.) - Limestone
Darla Svoboda (Jr.) - Limestone
Kenzie Pierce (Jr.) - North Greenville
Kayla Hyatt (So.) - Pfeiffer
Paige O'Connor (Jr.) - Southern Wesleyan
Middle Hitters (Year):
Alexandra Cullens (So.) - Barton
Coreen Norwood (Jr.) - Belmont Abbey
Ashton Beckner (Sr.) - King
Sarah Hughey (Sr.) - Southern Wesleyan
Liberos (Year):
Laura Peed (Jr.) - Barton
Sarah Kenney (So.) - Belmont Abbey
Kendall Kirk (Sr.) - Erskine
Milicia Stamenic (Sr.) - Southern Wesleyan
Setters (Year):
Gabby Martinez (Sr.) - Belmont Abbey
Kristen Dodge (Sr.) - Erskine
Madison Pogue (Sr.) - North Greenville
Tiana Gildernew (Fr.) - Pfeiffer
Conference Carolinas is a NCAA Division II athletics conference made up of 12 teams from Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. These institutions consist of: Barton College, Belmont Abbey, Converse College, Emmanuel College, Erskine College, King University, Lees-McRae College, Limestone College, University of Mount Olive, North Greenville University, Pfeiffer University, and Southern Wesleyan. Emmanuel College and Southern Wesleyan University are currently completing the NCAA Membership Process and will be fully competing in league championships in the near future.