8/28/2024 10:55:52 AM
By: Brian Lovellette
Greenville University begins the 2024 season as the preseason favorites in SLIAC Volleyball. The Panthers totaled 80 points, collecting eight first-place votes from league coaches. The Panthers finished with a 23-11 overall record, going 16-2 in conference play and won the regular season and tournament titles last year. They will be led by All-Conference duo Abby Grohman and Lainey Hicks. Grohman recorded 327 kills and 294 digs in her freshman year, earning Newcomer of the Year honors. Hicks is one of the top middles in the league, totaling 178 blocks over the last two years and earning All-Conference honors each season. Setter Emma Ratermann had a strong freshman year last season and will play a large role in the team's success. Elaina Evers, Gianna Raimondi, and Claudia Bonacorsi are among the newcomers for head coach Tom Ackerman.
Up next is Westminster College with 70 points and one first-place vote. The Blue Jays were 19-14 overall last year but will be young with just four seniors on the roster. Head Coach Dalton Tucker will build around All-Conference players Kylie Hasselbacher (313 kills) and Meghan Nolte (212 kills). Also back are Madisyn Ellis (206 kills) and Kirsten Schrader (a two-year starter at libero). Paige Rowland transfers in and joins 11 freshmen new to the program.
Webster University comes in 3rd with 70 points and one first-place vote. Head Coach Merry Graf has a young team but still brings back five starters. Among the returning starters are Alyssa Jones and Olivia Powell, who both earned All-Conference honors last season. Jones finished with 221 kills while Powell recorded 71 blocks. Also back are Grace White and Ellie Biedenstein as well as seniors Madison Katz and Cassie Gray. Among the new faces to the program that could work into the rotation are Jaycee Lewis, Eva Tarlos, and Lauren Harms.
In 4th is Fontbonne University with 55 points. The Griffins were 23-10 overall last season, going 15-3 in SLIAC play. Head Coach Jimmy Stika returns five starters including All-Conference players Kristen Kaempfe, Jordan Harpel, and Emma Harrop. Kaempfe led the team in kills with 265 while Harpel hit .279 while recording 184 kills. Harrop was second in the league at 4.71 digs per set. Also back are Riley Watson and Maura Oge.
Lyon College picked up 53 points, placing them in 5th on the poll. The Scots went 18-19 under head coach Kortney Cunningham, finishing 10-8 in SLIAC play. The program brings back five starters including All-Conference outside hitter Kylee Sabella. Sabella totaled 340 kills with 456 digs last season and is joined by middle blocker Keeley Beary (65 blocks) as leaders of the team. A group of 10 newcomers include Cristen Cleveland and Bryanna Rosario.
Spalding University was 6th with 40 points. No team information provided.
With 31 points, MUW comes in 7th on the poll. The Owls finished last year with an 8-20 record and welcome in a new head coach in Breylee Linder. The team returns three starters in Hannah Duran, Jamya Fondren, and Madyson McBrayer. Newcomers Miya-Cole Brown, Megan Neeb, Kendall Clay, and Madison Kelly will help transition the program to a more aggressive style of play in the hopes of helping the program take a step in the right direction.
Blackburn College finished with 30 points, putting them in 8th. First-year head coach Shannon Bishop steps into a roster that has four returning starters from a team that went 12-21 last season. The team brings back its top two hitters from last year in Cara Pence and Jessica Muckensturm. Pence totaled 322 kills and was named All-Conference last season while Muckensturm finished with 228 kills and 45 blocks. Zoe Mitchell joins Muckensturm in the middle after leading the team with 54 blocks. Kenadee Frey will be in her second year as the team's setter, totaling 334 assists last season. The team has spots open in its rotation for newcomers Payton Moeglin and Ella Person.
Eureka College tallied 19 points, finishing 9th on the poll. No team information provided.
Principia College received 8 points, coming in 10th.Geoffrey Davis is in his third year of rebuilding the program and returns three starters from last year's squad. Neha Bandrapalli, Alex Kibbe, and Dana Galinis all gained experience last year and will be leaders on a roster that has just one senior. Freshmen Kelson Parker and Armony Nichols join transfer Hallica Warren-Anderson in newcomers that will play key roles on the team.
