Clarion and Pitt-Johnstown Named Favorites in PSAC Volleyball Poll
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2015 Volleyball Preseaon Notes
Lock Haven, Pa. - In the PSAC Volleyball Preseason Poll, the league’s coaches have voted Clarion as the favorite in the West, while Pitt-Johnstown is picked to win the East.
Clarion is looking to win the PSAC West for the third consecutive year, compiling an impressive 40-4 combined conference record over the last two seasons. The Golden Eagles went to the NCAA Atlantic Regional Semifinals last year.
Last year’s PSAC West Athlete of Year, Laura Subject, has graduated, but Clarion does return the 2014 PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year, Morgan Seybold, and the PSAC West Freshman of the Year, Gabrielle Olson. Also back for the Golden Eagles is Mackenzie Biggs, who was All-PSAC West Second Team in 2014.
California and Gannon and tied for second place in the poll. California won the PSAC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Atlantic Regional Finals last year. Returning for the Vulcans this year is Atlantic Regional All-Tournament Team member Mary Lavery and two-time Second Team All-PSAC West honoree Miranda Fouzie.
Gannon won at least 20 matches for the sixth straight year in 2014. The 2015 Golden Knights will be led by two returning First Team All-PSAC West members: Hannah Kren and Lynne Hibbard. Kren was also named to the Atlantic Regional All-Tournament Team.
Last season, six of the eight PSAC West teams advanced to the NCAA Tournament. That strength and parity shows in the poll, as six of the eight teams are tied for a ranking.
Seton Hill is alone in fourth place, while Edinboro and Mercyhurst are tied for fifth place. The Griffins, Fighting Scots, and Lakers all advanced to postseason play last year.
IUP and Slippery Rock round out the PSAC West in a tie for seventh place.
Pitt-Johnstown won the PSAC in 2013, earning the university’s first PSAC crown. The Mountain Cats are the preseason favorite in the East for the second straight year. UPJ is led by a trio of sophomores, as Devan Orr, Kendall Mahoney, and Cambria Wierman were all named All-PSAC as freshmen. Additionally, Mahoney was recognized as the PSAC East Freshman of the Year, while Orr was named the PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year.
Last year’s winners of the PSAC East, Lock Haven, are tabbed second in the poll. First Team All-PSAC East setter Jessica Brown is back for the Eagles, as is Megan Flick, a Second Team All-PSAC East performer.
Shippensburg is third in the poll, followed by West Chester, Kutztown, and Millersville. Last season, just three wins separated third place and sixth place in this division.
East Stroudsburg was voted seventh in the poll, while Cheyney closed things out in eighth.
The entire poll is listed below.
PSAC WEST
1. Clarion
T-2. California
T-2. Gannon
4. Seton Hill
T-5. Edinboro
T-5. Mercyhurst
T-7. IUP
T-7. Slippery Rock
PSAC EAST
1. Pitt-Johnstown
2. Lock Haven
3. Shippensburg
4. West Chester
5. Kutztown
6. Millersville
7. East Stroudsburg
8. Cheyney