Emmanuel Picked to Win Third Title in Women’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Emmanuel Picked to Win Third Title in Women’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll

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GREENVILLE, S.C. – Emmanuel, the 2022 west division champions and Conference Carolinas tournament runners-up, were chosen to win the program’s third championship in the 2023 Women’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
 
The conference office officially unveiled the preseason poll on Aug. 24. The preseason poll was voted on by the league’s head coaches.
 
The Lions, who finished last season 24-8 overall, a league-best 17-1 in conference play and return a trio of all-conference performers, garnered 162 points and eight-of-14 first-place votes. UNC Pembroke, the 2022 tournament champions, were picked second with 148 points and two first-place nods while North Greenville was a close third with 145 points and two first-place tallies. Mount Olive was picked fourth with 138 points and one first-place vote while Francis Marion rounded out the top five with 130 points and the final first-place nod.

King was picked sixth with 108 points followed by Barton (83), Converse (70), Lees-McRae (66), Belmont Abbey (65), Chowan (64), Erskine (47), conference newcomer Young Harris (30) and Southern Wesleyan (18).
 
The 2023 season gets underway on Thursday, Aug. 31 with conference play beginning on Sept. 15. The first and second rounds of the conference tournament will take place on campus sites at the higher seeds on Nov. 11 or 12. The quarterfinals, semifinals and championship, Nov. 17-19, will be played in North Charleston, South Carolina at the North Charleston Athletic Center. 
 
2023 Conference Carolinas
Women’s Volleyball Preseason Poll 
 
School Total (First Place)
Emmanuel 162 (8)
UNC Pembroke 148 (2)
North Greenville 145 (2)
Mount Olive 138 (1)
Francis Marion 130 (1)
King 108
Barton 83
Converse 70
Lees-McRae 66
Belmont Abbey 65
Chowan 64
Erskine 47
Young Harris 30
Southern Wesleyan 18

2023 Conference Carolinas Women’s Volleyball
Players to Watch
 
Barton
  • Allison Gambill, Sr., OH, Hickory, North Carolina (2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas; Fall 2021 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas; Spring 2021 First Team All-Conference Carolinas, Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team; 2019 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year, Second Team All-Conference Carolinas) 
  • Kate Lawrence, Sr., MB, Sanford, North Carolina 
  • Lilly Meyer, Jr., DS, Greencastle, Indiana
Belmont Abbey
  • Mia Samaha, Jr., OH, Augusta, Georgia 
  • Cameron Young, Sr., OH, Omaha, Nebraska 
  • Lola Sultenfuss, Fr., MB, Hendersonville, North Carolina 
Chowan
  • Diana Rodriguez, So., L, Tijuana, Mexico (2022 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year, Second Team All-Conference Carolinas) 
  • Ellie Middleton, Sr., OH, Petersburg, Kentucky
Converse
  • Tia Gripado, Jr., OH, Tulsa, Oklahoma
  • Mackenzie Schmucker, So., S, Myakka City, Florida 
  • Alayah Robertson, Fr., MB, Clayton, North Carolina
Emmanuel
  • Emily Hanson, Sr., OPP, Locust Grove, Georgia (2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas, Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team) 
  • Alaina Emminger, Sr., OH, Lilburn, Georgia (2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas)
  • Gabrielle McGlamery, Sr., S, Fayetteville, Georgia (2022 First Team All-Conference Carolinas; Fall 2021 Third Team All-Conference Carolinas) 
Erskine
  • Ali Angell, So., RS, Mocksville, North Carolina
  • Meghan DeWalt, So., S, Indian Land, South Carolina
  • Megan Thees, Sr., L, Fort Mill, South Carolina
Francis Marion
  • Kaylee Gillespie, Sr., S, Pickens, South Carolina (2022 Third Team All-Conference Carolinas; Fall 2021 First Team All-Conference Carolinas, Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team)
  • Caroline Lucas, So., MB, Easley, South Carolina
  • Kara Walker, Jr., OH, Fayetteville, North Carolina
King
  • Hailee Blankenship, Sr., OH/RS, Goode, Virginia (2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas) 
  • Katie Harless, Sr., S/RS, Abingdon, Virginia
  • Abigale Jayne, Sr., OH, Kingsport, Tennessee
Lees-McRae
  • Sydney Stigler, So., OH, Cincinnati, Ohio (2022 Third Team All-Conference Carolinas) 
  • Nina Vallesi, Jr., OH, Civitanova Marche, Italy 
  • Patrycja Rykala, Jr., OH, Blachownia, Poland 
Mount Olive
  • Morgan Prots, Jr., DS/L, Whispering Pines, North Carolina (2022 First Team All-Conference Carolinas, Conference Carolinas Women’s Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year; Spring 2021 Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team) 
  • Lyndsay Reid, Fr., S, Thomasville, North Carolina
  • Ashlyn Stone, Jr., OH/RS, Rougemount, North Carolina (2022 Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team)
North Greenville
  • Abigail Durham, Sr., OPP/OH, Easley, South Carolina (2022 Conference Carolinas Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference Carolinas, AVCA Southeast Region Honorable Mention; Fall 2021 Conference Carolinas Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference Carolinas; Spring 2021 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas, Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team)
  • Ashlyn Conner, Sr., S, Dothan, Alabama (2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas)
  • Kelli Davis, Sr., OH/MB, Moore, South Carolina
Southern Wesleyan
  • Gracie Wilson, Fr., MB, Mocksville, North Carolina
  • Megan Gilliland, Fr., RS/MB, Miami, Ohio
  • Cara Martin, Sr., S, Seneca, South Carolina
UNC Pembroke
  • Vanja Przulj, Sr., OH, Belgrade, Serbia (2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas, Conference Carolinas Tournament MVP)
  • Katie Pressley, Sr., S/L, Indian Trail, North Carolina (Fall 2021 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year, Second Team All-Conference Carolinas)
  • Hope Turbyfill, Sr., L/DS, Trinity, North Carolina