ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Emory & Henry University Volleyball Team has been picked to finish in 12th place in the South Atlantic Conference this year by the league's head coaches. The poll was released by the SAC office on Monday.

RELATED – SAC Preseason Poll & Players to Watch

Wingate University is picked as favorites to take the league with 10 of the 12 available first-place votes. Lenoir-Rhyne University is second in the poll with one top nod while Anderson (S.C.) University is third with the last first-place pick. Carson-Newman rounds out the top four squads.

Additionally, the SAC has announced its Players to Watch List with three Wasps earning the honor. Senior setter Logan Newberry (Glade Spring, Va.), senior middle blocker Gracyn Miller (Lilburn, Ga.) and junior outside hitter Grace Duey (Tega Cay, S.C.) were all named as players to keep an eye on throughout the 2025 season. 

Emory & Henry will kick off the season on Friday, September 5 at the Bobcat Classic hosted by Georgia College & State University. Game one is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. from Milledgeville, Georgia. 

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2025 SAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank School (First-Place Votes) Points

1. Wingate (10) 109

2. Lenoir-Rhyne (1) 97

3. Anderson (1) 89

4. Carson-Newman 76

5. Lincoln Memorial 71

6. Mars Hill 64

7. Tusculum 49

8. UVA Wise 32

9. Newberry 27

10. Catawba 26

11. Coker 21

12. Emory & Henry 11

2025 Preseason All-Conference Team

• Kayli Cleaver, Lenoir-Rhyne

• Averie Dale, Lenoir-Rhyne

• Maddie Hurst, Carson-Newman

• Laela Jimenez, Mars Hill

• Emily Johnson, Wingate

• Sydney Morland, Wingate

• Maya Van Heyst, Wingate

• Gabby Saye, Wingate

• Ellie Nieporte, Anderson

• Emily Campbell, Anderson

Players to Watch

Anderson

• Ava Reeves, Jr., OH

Carson-Newman

• Blair Cherry, Jr., S

• Emerson Ahsmuhs, So., OH

Catawba

• Martina Foster, Sr., MB

• Riley Hill, Jr., Libero

• Katrina Misra, Jr., OH

Coker

• Meadow Morse, Gr., Libero

• Cayla Gilmore, So., RS

• Hazar Kayan, Sr., OH

Emory & Henry

• Gracyn Miller, Sr., MB

• Logan Newberry, Sr., S

• Grace Duey, Jr., OH

Lenoir-Rhyne

• Brooke Aeschliman, So., OH

Lincoln Memorial

• Lauren Pickett, Jr., S

• Lauren Jacob, So., Libero

• Carley Raleigh, RS-So., S

Mars Hill

• Ioana Poenaru, Jr., OH

• Alyssa Kornegay, So., S

Newberry

• Madison Watson, Sr., MB

• Anna Schneider, Jr., OH

• Sam Shaffer, Sr., RS

Tusculum

• Addison McLarty, So., OH

• Jaida Alvin, Jr., OH

• Breana Pelbath, Jr., MB

UVA Wise

• Abigail Curtis, Jr., DS/L

• Morgan Blankenship, Jr., OH/RS

• Riley Brandon, Jr., S/OH