ROCK HILL, S.C. – After finishing last season with a trip to the South Atlantic Conference semifinals and a bid to the NCAA Tournament, the Anderson University volleyball team has been picked to finish third in the league this season in the coaches’ poll while three student-athletes were named Preseason All-Conference as released by the conference on Wednesday, August 16.

Wingate earned the top spot in the poll followed by Carson-Newman in the runner-up spot. Lenoir-Rhyne was tabbed to finish fourth while Tusculum and Mars Hill rounded out the top-six. Newberry, Catawba, Limestone and Lincoln Memorial completed the top-ten of the poll while Emory & Henry slotted themselves 11^th and Coker and UVA Wise tied for 12^th.

Senior Jaelyn Grimm (Cedar Park, Texas), senior Rylie Sargent (Greer, S.C.) and graduate Lindsay McCurley (Simpsonville, S.C.) were named to the first, second and third teams, respectively.  The Trojans were able to turn in a 21-8 overall record last season, including a 13-5 mark in league action.

Grimm jumped up two teams from her Third-Team accolades last season to be the lone Trojan on the First-Team. She ranked third in the conference last year with 103 total blocks, recording seven or more blocks in a game on three occasions. Her .354 hitting percentage was enough for the sixth highest in the league while she was able to record double digit kills in four contests.

Sargent was named to the All-Tournament team last season after finishing the season ranked third on the team with 230 kills. She was able to eclipse the double-digit mark in kill on ten occasions throughout the year, including a season-high 22 in a contest against Wingate. Her 2.28 kills per set also ranked third on the team.

McCurley was a terror from the service line last year as she led the team with 41 service aces, tied for fourth most in the conference. In addition, she led the team with 3.29 digs per set and 332 digs, ranking 11^th and 12^th in the conference, respectively. She broke the top-ten in school history last year as her career aces boosted to 127.

The Trojans kick-off their regular season on September 1 with a trip to Fairmont State to take part in a two-day tournament featuring contests against the hosts as well a Elizabeth City State, Ursuline and Slippery Rock.

2023 SAC Volleyball Preseason Poll

Rank School (First Place Votes) Score

1. Wingate (11) 140
2. Carson-Newman (2) 130
3. Anderson 120
4. Lenoir-Rhyne 112
5. Tusculum 100
6. Mars Hill 92
7. Newberry 69
8. Catawba 66
9. Limestone 65
10. Lincoln Memorial 46
11. Emory & Henry 30
12. Coker 22
13. UVA Wise 22