Southeastern Named Preseason Volleyball Favorite
Donnie Smith
LAKELAND, Fla.—In the 2018 Sun Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll, Southeastern held a slight edge as the favorite.
The Fire received four first-place votes, sneaking past defending tournament champion Webber International by two points for the top spot. The Warriors also received four first-place votes.
Southeastern welcomes back the services of libero Kenia Rivera Santiago after she averaged 4.6 digs per set last year, and the top blocker in The Sun Conference in Emily Boehlein, who totaled 91 total blocks during her freshman season, helping the Fire to a 23-8 record.
Webber International was 25-6 a year ago, and went 14-2 in The Sun Conference. The Warriors return The Sun Conference’s top hitter from 2017 in Brittany Taksas, who posted a .378 hitting percentage with 334 kills. Also back is outside hitter Virginia Salanoa-Sagpolu, who posted 384 kills.
Coastal Georgia finished third with 46 points, and secured the final first-place vote. The Mariners led the conference in service aces last year with 206, and were 11-14 last year.
St. Thomas, which won the regular season title in 2017, finished fourth. Warner, Keiser, Florida Memorial, Ave Maria, and Johnson & Wales rounded out the poll.
2018 Sun Conference Volleyball Preseason Poll
Southeastern 54 (4)
Webber International 52 (4)
Coastal Georgia 46 (1)
St. Thomas 43
Warner 36
Keiser 32
Florida Memorial 26
Ave Maria 19
Johnson & Wales 16