ROCK HILL, S.C. – Coming off a fifth-place finish in the South Atlantic Conference Mountain Division last fall and 10th place in the overall league standings, the Emory & Henry College Volleyball Team has been chosen to finish 11th in the SAC this year by the league's head coaches. The poll was released by the SAC office on Wednesday.

RELATED – SAC Preseason Poll & Preseason All-Conference Teams

The Wasps return seven players from last year's squad and welcome 15 newcomers, four of whom are transfers. This group will mix youth and experience under the direction of first-year head coach Pam Newberry.

This year, E&H has a slate of 28 matches including 18 league matchups. Leading off the season is a visit to Barton College on Friday, September 1. The Wasps remain on the road on Tuesday, September 5, visiting Concord University.

Emory & Henry opens both its home and league campaign with a contest against Tusculum University on Wednesday, September 6 (7 p.m.). The Wasps return to the road, traveling to Carrollton, Georgia for the UWG Tournament, hosted by University of West Georgia on Friday, September 8 and Saturday, September 9. Matches against West Georgia, St. Augustine's College, Clark Atlanta University and Georgia College & State University are scheduled for the weekend.

After a trio of away league matches await E&H, visiting Carson-Newman University (Tue., Sept. 12), Mars Hill University (Fri., Sept. 15), and Lincoln Memorial University (Tue., Sept. 19). The Wasps then host Newberry College on Friday, September 23 at 7 p.m., welcome Southwest Virginia rival, the University of Virginia's College at Wise on Tuesday, September 26 (6 p.m.).

Emory & Henry takes to the road for another three matches, visiting Limestone University and Erskine College on Friday, September 29 and Saturday, September 30, respectively. The Wasps close the trip at Tusculum on Tuesday, October 3.

A Friday evening visit from Mars Hill on October 6 (7 p.m.) is next before a visit to Winston-Salem State University on Tuesday, October 10. E&H hosts Lenoir-Rhyne University on Friday, October 13 (6 p.m.) to kick off Homecoming Weekend. Coker University comes to town on Tuesday, October 17 at 6 p.m.

After a weekend trip to Anderson (S.C.) University and Southern Wesleyan University (Fri., Oct. 20 & Sat., Oct. 21), Emory & Henry plays three matches at home. Lincoln Memorial will visit the King Center on Tuesday, October 24 (7 p.m.) with North Greenville University coming on Wednesday, October 25 at 7 p.m. to complete the back-to-back midweek stretch. On Friday, October 27, the Wasps host Carson-Newman at 6 p.m.

Three final road matches at UVA Wise (Tue., Oct. 31), Catawba College (Fri., Nov. 3) and Lenoir-Rhyne (Wed., Nov. 8) set up Emory & Henry's final regular season contest against Wingate University on Friday, November 10 (7 p.m.).

The South Atlantic Conference Tournament will take place between November 13 and 16. Quarterfinals will be at the higher seeds with the semifinals and championship contests at the Rock Hill Sports & Events Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Perennial SAC power and 2022 NCAA Division II Quarterfinalist Wingate University is once again the league favorite, earning 11 of 13 first-place votes. Carson-Newman University snagged the remaining two top nods and is second in the poll. Anderson University, Lenoir-Rhyne University and Tusculum University make up the top five.

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