GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG volleyball team has been tabbed to finish in third place in the Southern Conference standings this season according to a vote by the league's head coaches. Each coach was not allowed to rank his or her own team.
Furman and Samford were chosen as co-favorites to win the 2015 SoCon title earning 58 points apiece in the poll. The defending tournament champion Bulldogs received five first place votes while the defending regular season champion Paladins garnered three. UNCG racked up 54 points and one first place vote.
Junior setter Sara Hohman and senior defensive specialist Katherine Santiago were two of eight league players named to the preseason all-conference team. Furman led the way with three players selected while Samford, ETSU and Chattanooga had one player recognized.
Hohman finished second in the league in assists per set in 2014, compiling a 10.86 per set average while Santiago ranked second among SoCon players in digs per set with a 4.57 per set average.
ETSU received 39 points, edging Chattanooga for the fourth spot in the poll. The Bucs rejoined the SoCon in 2014, notching an 11-5 conference mark that included a six-match conference win streak to end the regular season. Senior Khadijah Wiley grabbed a spot on the preseason all-conference team for the Bucs.
Chattanooga (35) and Western Carolina (30) were slotted in the poll at fifth and sixth, respectively. The Mocs are represented on the preseason all-conference team by junior right-side hitter Kristy Wieser. Mercer and Wofford shared the seventh spot after both collected 21 points, while The Citadel rounded out the poll with eight points.
The Spartans return five starters from a 2014 squad that posted a 20-11 overall record and an 11-5 mark in the Southern Conference – good for second place in the league standings. The Blue and Gold reached the conference tournament semifinals for the first time since 2010 while outside hitter Ashley Muench was tabbed the SoCon Freshman of the Year.
UNCG opens its 2015 campaign Friday, Aug. 28 taking on Liberty in the first match of the Liberty Invitational at 7 p.m. The match is slated for broadcast by ESPN3 and will also be available on the WatchESPN mobile app.
Keep up with the UNCG volleyball team all season by logging on to www.uncgspartans.com and following the Spartans' official Twitter accounts @UNCGVB/@uncgsports.
2015 Southern Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Samford (5) – 58
1. Furman (3) – 58
3. UNCG (1) – 54
4. ETSU – 39
5. Chattanooga – 35
6. Western Carolina – 30
7. Mercer – 21
7. Wofford – 21
9. The Citadel – 8
2015 Southern Conference Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team
Erin Bognar, Samford, OH
Jo Wilks, Furman, S
Annie Bierman, Furman, OH
Kristy Wieser, Chattanooga, RS
Khadijah Wiley, ETSU, OH
Sara Hohman, UNCG, S
Meg DeMaar, Furman, LIB
Katherine Santiago, UNCG, DS
