FOREST, Va. – The Emory & Henry College Volleyball Team, led by first-year Head Coach Kyla King, has been tabbed as 11th in this year's Old Dominion Athletic Conference Preseason Poll, ODAC officials announced Wednesday. The poll is voted on by the 13 head coaches in the league.
RELATED – ODAC Preseason Poll
Last season, E&H went 7-21 (3-8 ODAC), missing the league tournament for the first time in program history. The Wasps will be without two-time all-league performer Ali Singleton (Mount Jackson, Va.), who graduated in May.
Emory & Henry returns six seniors and two juniors who will be looked upon to provide leadership both on and off the court to the nine freshmen. Leading the returners is senior setter Sam McCauley (Glade Spring, Va.), who currently sits fifth all-time in career assists (1,778). Also back are senior Tori Holmberg (Wake Forest, N.C.) and junior Lauren Coolidge (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), the team leaders in kills (300) and digs (408), respectively.
"I see [the ranking] as a starting point for us, something to base ourselves against the competition," commented King. "We will use this season to improve our ranking, reach and exceed our historical place in the middle of the conference."
The top of the poll is crowded with league-favorite Washington and Lee University and Randolph-Macon College separated by one first-place vote. Virginia Wesleyan University is third while Bridgewater College and the University of Lynchburg round out the top five.
Emory & Henry will open the season for the second year in a row at the River City Classic, hosted by Marietta College on Friday, August 31 and Saturday, September 1. The Wasps' first home match of the year is set for Tuesday, September 4 against Southern Virginia University (6:30 p.m.).
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2018 ODAC VOLLEYBALL
PRESEASON POLL
| (#) Denotes First Place Votes | |
| 1. Washington and Lee (7) | 139 pts. |
| 2. Randolph-Macon (6) | 138 pts. |
| 3. Virginia Wesleyan | 116 pts. |
| 4. Bridgewater | 112 pts. |
| 5. Lynchburg | 100 pts. |
| 6. Roanoke | 85 pts. |
| 7. Guilford | 83 pts. |
| 8. Eastern Mennonite | 60 pts. |
| 9. Randolph | 50 pts. |
| 10. Shenandoah | 48 pts. |
| 11. Emory & Henry | 38 pts. |
| 12. Ferrum | 33 pts. |
| 13. Hollins | 12 pts. |