King Chosen to Defend Title in Women’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll

King Chosen to Defend Title in Women’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Bookmark and Share

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Defending tournament champion King has been picked to repeat in the 2021 Conference Carolinas Women’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
The conference office officially unveiled the preseason poll on Aug. 20, 2021. The preseason poll was voted on by the league’s head coaches.
 
King won its first-ever tournament championship last spring after finishing as runner-up in 2019. The Tornado received nine first-place votes and 139 points overall to secure the top spot in the 2021 preseason tally. North Greenville, who finished as runner-up to King, collected the remaining three first-place votes and was second in the poll with 133 points. Back-to-back 2018 and 2019 tournament champion Emmanuel claimed third with 121 points. 
 
Conference newcomer UNC Pembroke and Mount Olive tied for fourth with 97 points while the other newcomer, Francis Marion, is sixth with 89 points. They are followed by Converse (83), Barton (62), Lees-McRae (62), Belmont Abbey (57), Erskine (35), Chowan (20) and Southern Wesleyan (19). 
 
The 2021 season gets underway on Thursday, Sept. 2 with conference play beginning on Sept. 22. The first two rounds of the conference tournament will take place on campus sites at the higher seeds on Nov. 13 and 16. The semifinals and championship, Nov. 19-20, will be played in Bristol, Tennessee on the campus of King University. 
 
2021 Conference Carolinas
Women’s Volleyball Preseason Poll 
 
School Total (First Place)
King 139 (9)
North Greenville 133 (3)
Emmanuel 121
UNC Pembroke 97 (1)
Mount Olive 97
Francis Marion 89
Converse 83
Barton 62
Lees-McRae 62
Belmont Abbey 57
Erskine 35
Chowan 20
Southern Wesleyan 19
 
2021 Conference Carolinas Women’s Volleyball
Players to Watch
 
Barton
  • Allison Gambill, Jr., Outside Hitter, Hickory, North Carolina (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas First Team & All-Tournament Team, 2019 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year & All-Conference Carolinas Second Team)
  • Sarah Kirk, Sr., Setter, Pearland, Texas
  • Caroline Schoonover, So., Right Side, Lutz, Florida
Belmont Abbey
  • Hailey Ryan, Sr., Outside Hitter, Charleston, South Carolina (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Second Team)
  • Paige Rawlins, Sr., Setter, Pickerington, Ohio
  • Cameron Young, So., Outside Hitter, Omaha, Nebraska 
Chowan
  • Anixa Rosa-Martinez, Outside Hitter, Jr., San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico
  • Natalia Vega-Aponte, Defensive Specialist, Sr., Bayamon, Puerto Rico (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team)
Converse
  • Kiara Cannon, Sr., Outside Hitter, Simpsonville, South Carolina, (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team)
  • Jasmine Finkley, Jr., Middle Hitter, Blythewood, South Carolina, (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team)
  • Elizabeth Yohe, Sr., Defensive Specialist/Libero, Summerville, South Carolina, (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas First Team, 2019 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team)
Emmanuel
  • Victoria Alexander, Sr., Libero, Miami, Florida
  • Gabrielle McGlammery, So., Setter, Fayetteville, Georgia
  • Taylor Roberts, Sr., Middle Hitter, Rome, Georgia (2019 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team)
Erskine
  • Megan Thees, So., Libero, Fort Mill, South Carolina
  • Katy Torgerson, Sr, Middle Hitter, Summerville, South Carolina (2018 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team)
  • Kaile Tuisamatatele, Sr., Middle Hitter, Kapolei, Hawaii
Francis Marion
  • Kayla Arthur, 5th-year Sr., Outside Hitter/Opposite, Holly Springs, North Carolina
  • Kaylee Gillespie, So., Setter, Pickens, South Carolina
  • Iyanla Thigpen, Sr., Middle Blocker, Chicago, Illinois (2020-21 All-Peach Belt Conference)
King
  • Georgia Davis, Sr., Setter, Leland, North Carolina (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team)
  • Brittney Ramsey, Sr., Middle Blocker, Afton, Tennessee (2020-21 Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Year, All-Conference Carolinas Second Team, All-Tournament Team & Conference Carolinas Women's Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, 2019 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team) 
  • Julie Ward, Sr., Outside Hitter, Berthoud, Colorado (2020-21 Conference Carolinas Women's Volleyball Championship Most Valuable Player, AVCA All-Region and Honorable Mention All-American, 2018, 2019 & 2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas First Team, 2019 Conference Carolinas Player of the Year, 2018 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year)
Lees-McRae
  • Carlee Allbaugh, So., Setter, Tallahassee, Florida (2020-21 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year & All-Conference Carolinas Second Team)
  • Olivia Ney, Sr., Middle Blocker, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 
  • Lauren Xayavong, Jr., Defensive Specialist/Libero, Hickory, North Carolina 
Mount Olive
  • Amara Eziakonwa, Jr., Middle Blocker, Tampa, Florida (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team)
  • Camryn Huber, Sr., Middle Blocker, Buies Creek, North Carolina
  • Morgan Prots, So., Libero, Whispering Pines, North Carolina (2020-21 All-Tournament Team)
North Greenville
  • Paige Beisecker, R-Jr., Middle Blocker, Hartsville, South Carolina (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Third Team & All-Tournament Team. 2018 All-Conference Carolinas Second Team)
  • Kelli Davis, Jr., Middle Blocker, Spartanburg, South Carolina
  • Abigail Durham, R-So., Right Side, Easley, South Carolina (2020-21 All-Conference Carolinas Second Team & All-Tournament Team)
Southern Wesleyan
  • Amber Bass, Jr., Middle Blocker/Outside Hitter, Chester, South Carolina
  • Emily Ellis, So., Outside Hitter, Coconut Creek, Florida
  • Jesse Soles, Sr., Defensive Specialist./Outside Hitter, Pickens, South Carolina
UNC-Pembroke
  • Shannon Skryd, R-Jr., Outside Hitter, Naperville, Illinois (2020-21 All-Peach Belt Conference)
  • Brianna Warren, R-Jr., Middle Blocker, Indian Trail, North Carolina (2020-21 All-Peach Belt Conference)