ROCK HILL, S.C. --- The Tusculum University volleyball team has been picked to finish sixth in the South Atlantic Conference according to the 2018 Coaches' Poll. Tusculum senior outside hitter Cassie Born was also named to the Preseason All-Conference first team as selected by the league's media relations directors.
The Pioneers received 61 total points in a vote of the conference's 11 head coaches. Wingate is the favorite to win the title as the Bulldogs garnered 10 first place votes and 110 points. Defending league champion Anderson is second with 93 points including one first place nod. Queens University of Charlotte is third with 92 points, followed by Carson-Newman (87), Lincoln Memorial (63), Tusculum, Mars Hill (56), Lenoir-Rhyne (53), Coker (43), Catawba (33) and Newberry (24).
Born, a senior from Horse Shoe, North Carolina, led the Pioneers in total kills and kills per set last season while earning a spot on the All-SAC second team. Her 320 total kills were sixth in the conference while her 2.96 kills per set average was ninth-best in the league. She averaged 3.21 digs per set and finished 10th in the league with her 32 service aces. She also averaged 3.5 points per set (6th in SAC) and her 377.5 total points were sixth in the conference.
Born totaled 347 digs, 46 blocks and 24 assists while also tallying 13 double-doubles including four in a row. She posted season-highs with 26 kills and 26 digs against Lincoln Memorial and was named the SAC Player of the Week and TSWA College Player of the Week.
Tusculum returns seven letter-winners from last year's 15-16 squad that finished fourth in the league standings.
The Pioneers will open the season Aug. 31 & Sep. 1 when they host the SAC Regional Crossover at Pioneer Arena.
SAC Volleyball Coaches' Poll
|
Rk |
Team (1st Place Votes) |
PTS |
|
1 |
Wingate (10) |
110 |
|
2 |
Anderson (1) |
93 |
|
3 |
Queens |
92 |
|
4 |
Carson-Newman |
87 |
|
5 |
Lincoln Memorial |
63 |
|
6 |
TUSCULUM |
61 |
|
7 |
Mars Hill |
56 |
|
8 |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
53 |
|
9 |
Coker |
43 |
|
10 |
Catawba |
33 |
|
11 |
Newberry |
24 |
2018 Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Team
First Team
Rachel Alles, Wingate
Anna Holmquist, Wingate
Morgan Ballard, Carson-Newman (L)
Taylor Henry, Queens
Phoebe Havenaar, Wingate
Cassie Born, Tusculum
Emily Conlin, Anderson
Marnie Steeter, Carson-Newman
Second Team
Taylor du Bray, Coker
Sally Anne Johnson, Mars Hill
Kori Adams, Wingate (L)
Jayln Knight, Anderson
Casey Tarvin, Queens
Kathryn Hughes, Anderson
Megan Oldenburger, Carson-Newman
Taylor Prall, Lenoir-Rhyne
