East Stroudsburg, Gannon, Seton Hill and Shippensburg Top PSAC Volleyball Preseason Polls
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. --- East Stroudsburg, Gannon, Seton Hill and Shippensburg were tabbed to win their respective divisions in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Volleyball Preseason Polls, as voted on by the league’s head coaches, the conference office announced Monday afternoon.
With the addition of Shepherd to the PSAC, the sport of volleyball restructured their divisions. The Central Division will consist of East Stroudsburg, Kutztown, Bloomsburg and Lock Haven. The Northwest Division will be the five-team division of Gannon, Clarion, Edinboro, Mercyhurst and Slippery Rock. The Southwest Division boasts Seton Hill, Pitt-Johnstown, Cal U and IUP. The Southeast Division will consist of Shippensburg, Shepherd, Millersville and West Chester.
The four division winners will earn an automatic bid to the PSAC Volleyball Championship while the next four best records will earn at-large spots.
CENTRAL
East Stroudsburg claimed 15 first-place votes and will ride the skills of senior outside hitter Sarah Smith. Smith was one of 14 athletes named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Atlantic Region team last season and the first Warrior since 2009.
Kutztown garnered a pair of first-place votes and was tabbed second. The Golden Bears will be under the direction of John Gump, who is the winningest coach in program, and is six wins shy of 600 for his career. Junior Holly Owen will pace the offense after finishing fourth in the PSAC in kills per set (3.77) and points per set (4.11).
Bloomsburg was picked third and enters its second season in program history. The Huskies return junior Alyssa Cianciulli, who finished second in the PSAC and fifth in the country in digs per set (6.79). Bloomsburg picked up six wins in its inaugural season.
Lock Haven was selected fourth and will be under the direction of first-year coach Eric Buggs. Buggs comes from an assistant coaching position at Holy Cross. Senior Kristen Nealon has accumulated 2,044 assists and will pace the offense.
NORTHWEST
Gannon landed atop the division rankings after receiving 16 first-place votes. The Lady Knights have appeared in 10 consecutive NCAA DII Tournaments and finished second in the country in aces per set (2.38) and opponents hitting percentage (.104).
Clarion grabbed a first-place vote and was picked second. The Golden Eagles return the Defensive Athlete of the Year, Chrissy Cotton. Cotton paced the PSAC in digs (802).
Edinboro was tabbed third and return outside hitter Cierah Jackson. Jackson is a two-time all-conference representative and has led the Fighting Scots in kills in each of her first two seasons.
Mercyhurst was slated fourth and return sophomore Zoe Gadomski. Gadmoski led the Lakers with 30 aces in 2018.
Slippery Rock was picked fifth and return eight players from last season’s campaign.
SOUTHWEST
Seton Hill claimed 15 first-place votes and will look to defend their first-ever PSAC Championship. The Griffins return Athlete of the Year Viktoria Farian. She paced the PSAC in points (526.5) and was second in kills (453).
Pitt-Johnstown received a pair of first-place votes and selected second. The Mountain Cats have appeared in the PSAC Tournament in every season since 2013. Pitt-Johnstown will be led by a trio of seniors, including Noelle Carota. Carota accumulated 343 kills last season.
Cal U swiped third and return Sarah Benson. Benson finished third in the PSAC in assists (1,204) while senior Rachel Priore accumulated 431.0 points and 395 kills.
IUP was voted fourth and return its top five scorers from 2018, including Jessica Ignace. Ignace turned in 248 kills and 54 blocks.
SOUTHEAST
Shippensburg garnered 14 first-place votes and seek to reach the PSAC Tournament for a 13th consecutive season. The Raiders boast a pair of AVCA All-Region performers in Samantha Webber and Emily Hangen. Hangen paced the PSAC in assists per set (11.15) while Webber finished second in kills (360).
Shepherd received three first-place votes and was picked second. The Rams accumulated 22 wins in their final season in the Mountain East Conference. Shepherd led the conference in aces (230) and aces per set (1.85).
Millersville claimed third and is coming off its first PSAC division title since 1999. The Marauders return Jayci Suseland, who was an AVCA All-America Honorable Mention. She was Millersville’s first first-team all-conference representative since 2006.
West Chester rounded out the poll after finishing fourth in the PSAC in opponent hitting percentage (.149). The Golden Rams will boast sophomore Grace Whitney, who finished second in the league in hitting percentage (.323).
Clarion will be the first PSAC team in action when it opens its season Thursday, September 5.
CENTRAL (# of 1st place votes)
1) East Stroudsburg (15)
2) Kutztown (2)
3) Bloomsburg
4) Lock Haven
NORTHWEST
1) Gannon (16)
2) Clarion (1)
3) Edinboro
4) Mercyhurst
5) Slippery Rock
SOUTHWEST
1) Seton Hill (15)
2) Pitt-Johnstown (2)
3) Cal U
4) IUP
SOUTHEAST
1) Shippensburg (14)
2) Shepherd (3)
3) Millersville
4) West Chester