ATLANTA – Piedmont volleyball has been tabbed to finish fourth, as the Collegiate Conference of the South Preseason Coaches Poll was released on Wednesday afternoon.
Covenant, which cruised to a CCS Regular Season and Tournament Championship during a dominant 35-3 campaign, is picked to repeat atop the league standings. The Scots totaled 60 points and captured four of the nine first-place votes. Covenant received national preseason recognition, coming in at No. 25 in the AVCA poll.
The Lions finished the 2023 campaign in a three-way tie for second place with an 11-5 record. Piedmont hosted Berea in the CCS Tournament Quarterfinals, falling in a five-set heartbreaker.
Maryville is right on the heels of Covenant in second place, with 56 points and three first-place votes, while Huntingdon is a close third with 54 points and the remaining two first-place tallies.
Piedmont totaled 38 points, just ahead of conference newcomer Asbury, which comes in with 37.
Rounding out the listing are Belhaven (34), LaGrange (21), Agnes Scott (15) and Wesleyan (9).
Although the Lions must replace their leaders last season in kills, digs and service aces, they do return a pair of All-CCS performers in setter Vanessa Manzo and outside hitter Katie Hubbard. Manzo led the team in assists while Hubbard ranked second on the squad in kills.
Senior middle blocker Jessica Sconyers also returns after leading the team in total blocks in each of her first three seasons.
Piedmont is scheduled to open its 2024 season this weekend with three matches in Atlanta, with the season beginning this Friday, August 30 at 4 p.m. at Oglethorpe.
The 2024 CCS Women’s Volleyball Championship Tournament will begin on Tuesday, November 12 featuring the top six squads, and will culminate with the championship game on Saturday, November 16, hosted by the highest-seeded team.
2024 CCS WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL
- Covenant – 60 points (4)
- Maryville – 56 points (3)
- Huntingdon – 54 points (2)
- Piedmont – 38 points
- Asbury – 37 points
- Belhaven – 34 points
- LaGrange – 21 points
- Agnes Scott – 15 points
- Wesleyan – 9 points
