The Appalachian Athletic Conference has released the 2019 Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll. The article can be found below or at http://www.aacsports.com/article/4219 .
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Reinhardt is the favorite to win the 2019 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) volleyball championship, according to the AAC Coaches' Preseason Poll released Thursday.
Reinhardt received all 15 first-place votes to give it a total of 225 voting points. The Lady Eagles posted a 35-8 overall record and won the AAC regular season with a 19-0 record. Reinhardt captured its first-ever tournament championship and won its NAIA National Championship Opening Round match to advance to the final site in Sioux City, Iowa. The Lady Eagles went 1-2 at the final site in pool play.
Milligan is picked to finish second. The Buffaloes ended 2018 with a 26-9 overall record and went 16-3 in league play. Milligan was the tournament runner-up, and like Reinhardt, won its NAIA Opening Round match to advance to the national championship final site. The Buffaloes received 206 voting points.
Rounding out the top five are Point (190 points), Union (164 points), and Montreat (158 points.
The league is divided into divisions with seven playing in the North Division and eight in the South Division. The teams making up the North Division are Bluefield, Bryan, Kentucky Christian, Milligan, Montreat, Tennessee Wesleyan, and Union. In the South Division, the teams are Allen, Brenau, Columbia, Columbia International, Point, Reinhardt, St. Andrews, and Truett McConnell.
The top 10 teams in the conference will advance to the 2019 AAC Tournament, which is set for Nov. 13-16 at the MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort & Convention Center.
The 2019 AAC Volleyball Preseason Poll
Team (1st-Place Votes) - Total Points
1. Reinhardt (15) - 225
2. Milligan - 206
3. Point - 190
4. Union - 164
5. Montreat - 158
6. St. Andrews - 148
7. Bluefield - 127
8. Tennessee Wesleyan - 113
9. Truett McConnell - 109
10. Bryan - 98
11. Columbian International - 81
12. Kentucky Christian - 57
13. Brenau - 52
14. Columbia - 42
15. Allen - 15