The Samford Bulldogs have been selected as the preseason favorite in 2013 by the Southern Conference volleyball coaches. The Bulldogs received six first-place votes and 95 total points overall to take the top spot in the rankings.
Samford returns eight players from last year’s team that finished 23-9 in the regular season and 14-2 in league play before falling to College of Charleston in the semifinals of the SoCon tournament.
Georgia Southern earned 89 points and two first-place votes to finish second in the preseason poll.
Furman was voted third, notching 79 points and a first-place vote. UNCG received the final two first-place votes and 67 points to take the fourth spot, followed by Chattanooga with 63 points and Elon with 60. Davidson (47 points) and Appalachian State (44 points) were ranked seventh and eighth, respectively, with Western Carolina (26 points), Wofford (25 points) and The Citadel (10) rounding out the poll.
The coaches also selected the 2013 preseason all-conference team. Samford, Davidson, Furman and Georgia Southern each placed two players on the all-conference team. Samford’s Katie Murphy and Davidson’s Caroline Brown both were named to the squad for the second straight season.
Furman’s Christina Dorismond, Georgia Southern’s Kym Coley and Samford’s Michaela Reesor were also named preseason All-SoCon after being selected to the SoCon Volleyball All-Tournament Team in 2012. Reigning SoCon Freshman of the Year Jo Wilks was Furman’s second representative on the all-conference team.
Georgia Southern’s Alexandra Beecher and Davidson’s Tindall Sewell and UNCG’s Karrian Chambers were also selected to the preseason all-conference roster. Beecher was named to the SoCon All-Freshman team in 2012, while Chambers earned a second-team all-conference nod last season.
Due to a tie in voting, the all-conference team will feature nine players instead of the usual eight.
All 11 SoCon teams will take the court Aug. 29-30 in nonconference tournaments. The conference season kicks off Sept. 26.
2013 Preseason Coaches’ Poll
School (First-Place Votes) Total Points
1. Samford (6) 95
2. Georgia Southern (2) 89
3. Furman (1) 79
4. UNCG (2) 67
5. Chattanooga 63
6. Elon 60
7. Davidson 47
8. Appalachian State 44
9. Western Carolina 26
10. Wofford 25
11. The Citadel 10
2013 Preseason All-Conference Team
Name School Position
Caroline Brown Davidson OH
Tindall Sewell Davidson MH
Jo Wilks Furman S
Christina Dorismond Furman MB
Kym Coley GSU MB
Alexandra Beecher GSU DS
Karrian Chambers UNCG H/B
Michaela Reesor Samford OH
Katie Murphy Samford MB