ROCK HILL, S.C. --- The Tusculum volleyball team has been picked to finish seventh in the South Atlantic Conference according to the 2017 SAC Coaches' Poll. The Pioneers received 49 total votes in a poll of the league's 11 volleyball coaches.
Tusculum junior libero Melissa Mazur was also named to the Preseason All-Conference first team, as selected by the SAC's media relations directors.
Defending champion Wingate is the favorite again to repeat as the Bulldogs garnered 100 points, including 10 first place votes. Lincoln Memorial is second with 81 points, while Anderson is third with 76 points and one first place vote. Queens is picked fourth with 75 points, followed by Lenoir-Rhyne (65), Newberry (61), Tusculum (49), Catawba (35), Carson-Newman (28), Mars Hill (22) and Coker (13).
Mazur is a two-time All-SAC first team choice and has led the Pioneers in digs in her previous two collegiate campaigns. In 2016, she averaged 5.77 digs per set, which were second in the league. She was injured against Lincoln Memorial last October, halting her season. In 2015, Mazur earned All-America honors as a freshman after leading all NCAA divisions in digs, averaging 6.84 per set. She enters this year with 1,300 career digs to her credit, which are the fifth-most in the TC record book.
The Pioneers finished eighth last season as TC posted a 12-19 overall record. Tusculum returns 13 letter-winners with four starters from that club.
The Pioneers will open their season this weekend in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the Nova Southeastern Shark Invitational. Tusculum will open play on Friday morning at 11:30 a.m. as they face 2016 NCAA Division II national quarterfinalist American International. TC will also play Saint Leo on Friday, followed by Saturday's matches with Saint Anselm and host Nova Southeastern. The Pioneers will open SAC play on Friday, Sept. 8th when they host arch-rival Carson-Newman at Pioneer Arena.
2017 SAC Volleyball Coaches' Poll
|
Rk |
Team (1st Place Votes) |
PTS |
|
1 |
Wingate (10) |
100 |
|
2 |
Lincoln Memorial |
81 |
|
3 |
Anderson (1) |
76 |
|
4 |
Queens |
75 |
|
5 |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
65 |
|
6 |
Newberry |
61 |
|
7 |
TUSCULUM |
49 |
|
8 |
Catawba |
35 |
|
9 |
Carson-Newman |
28 |
|
10 |
Mars Hill |
22 |
|
11 |
Coker |
13 |
Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Team
First Team
Oakley Attaway, Wingate
Rachel Burts, Anderson
Emily Conlin, Anderson
Marissa Mitter, Anderson
Samantha Cash, Lincoln Memorial
Brooke Redmond, Lenoir-Rhyne
Emily Steele, Lenoir-Rhyne
DS: Melissa Mazur, Tusculum
Second Team
Keira Holland, Lincoln Memorial
Rachel Alles, Wingate
Rebecca Cochran, Queens
Katie Bludau, Wingate
Serena Jackson, Anderson
Sydney Kunz, Queens
Tone Gill, Lincoln Memorial
DS: Treslyn Ortiz, Wingate
