LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Shippensburg University and Gannon University women’s volleyball teams were selected as preseason favorites in the 2024 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Women’s Volleyball Preseason Polls,
as voted on by the conference’s coaches.
Eastern DIvision
The Shippensburg Raiders were voted No. 1 in the 2024 PSAC Eastern Division Women’s Volleyball Preseason Poll and tallied five first-place votes. The team’s 23 wins last fall were the most in the East, and its 13-1 conference record tied East Stroudsburg for the best mark in the division. The Raiders return reigning Freshman of the Year Gracen Nutt (328 kills in 2023) as well as All-PSAC First Team setter Kearstin Davis and Second Team honoree Maddie Clabaugh.
The No. 2 team in the 2024 East poll is the Shepherd Rams, who finished 2023 with a conference record of 9-5. Outside hitter and All-PSAC Second Team honoree Jordan Pryor is back to help guide a team that ranked fourth in hitting percentage (.200) and third in total blocks (240) in the conference.
The East Stroudsburg Warriors are No. 3 in this year’s poll and received a pair of first-place votes. ESU was 22-7 overall and 13-1 in PSAC play and returns a couple of talented players, including East Athlete of the Year Anna Coulter (who had a conference-best hitting percentage of .407) as well as fellow All-PSAC First Team setter Taylor Haan. The Warriors also ranked first in the PSAC in opponent hitting percentage at a .133 mark.
West Chester, the No. 4 team in the poll, finished 2023 with a 13-14 overall record and ranked eighth in the conference in points with 15.45 per set.
No. 5 Lock Haven, No. 6 Bloomsburg, No. 7 Kutztown, and No. 8 Millersville complete the remainder of the 2024 East poll.
Western Division
The Gannon Golden Knights sit atop the 2024 PSAC West Division Preseason Poll for the second consecutive season after collecting six first-place votes. The team finished 2023 with a record of 27-5 (14-2 PSAC) and are the defending conference champions after winning a grueling five-set title match against Clarion. Gannon returns All-Conference honorees Journey Blevins, Hailey Koch, and Emma Hall to a squad that ranked third in opponent hitting percentage (.150), second in kills (13.04), first in hitting percentage (.233), and second in blocks (286).
The No. 2 team in the 2024 West Poll, Clarion (28-7 overall, 13-3 in conference play), was the last PSAC team standing in 2023 and advanced all the way to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. The Golden Eagles will have to work in a new setter after the departure of three-time All-Conference honoree London Fuller but return PSAC West Athlete of the Year Cassidy Snider (who led the PSAC in kills with 601 and points with 668.5). Clarion was third-best in the conference in hitting percentage at a .225 clip and ranked first in assists with 12.3 per set.
The IUP Crimson Hawks were voted the No. 3 team in the West poll and collected a pair of first-place votes. IUP took down Gannon in the NCAA Atlantic Region tournament in a five-set battle and fell to Clarion in the Atlantic Regional final. Veteran talent is back for IUP that includes West Defensive Player of the Year Lauren Valentic (who led the PSAC in blocks with 172) and right side Nyla Birch, an All-PSAC First Team honoree. The Crimson Hawks were second-best in the PSAC in opponent hitting percentage at .138 and only allowed 10.79 kills per set, also the second-best mark in the conference.
The No. 4 team in the West’s preseason poll, Pitt-Johnstown, earned a 19-12 record (9-7 PSAC) last season. The Mountain Cats return many of the players from that 2023 team, including all three All-PSAC players: First Teamer Lualis Alvarado and Second Team honoreers Adiamar Beaz and Mallory Pinske. Also back is Gabi DeRenzo, who led the PSAC in total digs with 625.
No. 5 Edinboro, No. 6 Seton Hill, No. 7 Slippery Rock, and No. 8 California round out the rest of the 2024 West poll.
The 2024 PSAC women’s volleyball season kicks off in full on Friday, September 6.
2024 PSAC Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll (# of first-place votes in parentheses)
Eastern Division
1. Shippensburg (5)
2. Shepherd (1)
3. East Stroudsburg (2)
4. West Chester
5. Lock Haven
6. Bloomsburg
7. Kutztown
8. Millersville
Western Division
1. Gannon (6)
2. Clarion
3. IUP (2)
4. Pitt-Johnstown
5. Edinboro
6. Seton Hill
7. Slippery Rock
8. California