Battle Expected At Top in SLIAC Volleyball

If the 2016 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Volleyball Preseason Poll is any indication there is a battle expected at the top of the conference this year; with Greenville College edging out Westminster College for top preseason honors.

Greenville is coming off a 24-8 season last year that saw them capture the program's second ever SLIAC Tournament title. Greenville received 76 total points in the poll, capturing six first-place votes. The Panthers bring back 15 players and 4 starters from last year's squad that finished 17-1 in conference play. Head Coach Tom Ackerman will count on junior outside hitter Allyson Mitchell to lead the high-powered Panther attack. Mitchell earned First Team All-Conference honors last year after putting down 372 kills while also adding 243 digs on the defensive side. Savannah Sells, a senior, provides the second option in the attack after registering 262 kills. Sierah Ruffner, a senior middle hitter, hit .286 and teamed with Sells last year to record a combined 170 blocks. Senior setter Kirsten Laune, who recorded 951 assists in 2015, will again run the offense. The Panthers will need to replace the two-time reigning SLIAC Defensive Player of the Year, Jamie Schollenbruch, as well as outside Hannah Baker. Two newcomers to the team in freshmen Allyson Grabowski, a libero, and Cheyenne Vaca, an outside hitter, just may be the players to fill that void.

Westminster picked up 74 total points and 3 first-place votes in the poll to finish a close second. The Blue Jays went 22-12 overall last season and 16-2 in SLIAC play, advancing to the SLIAC Tournament Championship match. The Blue Jays, coached by Curtis Madson, bring back 10 players including 5 starters and their libero. Leading the way is 2015 SLIAC Player of the Year Hannah Marshall. Marshall, a junior outside hitter, was one of just two players in the league to finish with 400 or more kills last season (435). One of the reasons for Marshall's dominance was senior setter Kayla Reeg. Reeg, a First Team All-Conference honoree, will be looking to lead the conference in assists per set for the fourth consecutive year after averaging 9.85 per set last season. The Blue Jays rounded attack continues to the middle where senior Amanda Kiso stands tall. Kiso, a three time All-Conference player, was fourth in the conference in hitting percentage (.351) while recording 275 kills and 81 total blocks. Libero Bridge Ringwald is also back after leading the team with 483 digs as a true freshman. Top newcomers include Teresa Becker, Elizabeth Kelley, and Ashley Kistaitis.

Webster University, who holds a conference best nine regular season titles, was picked third in the preseason poll with 66 total points and received the remaining first-place vote. The Gorloks and head coach Merry Graf return 14 players from last year's team that went 16-18 overall and 14-4 in conference play. Among the returners is senior defensive specialist Katie O'Toole. O'Toole led the team in digs with 555 last season while also ranking first in service aces with 31. Senior right side hitter Jory Siebenmorgan is also back after leading the team with 327 kills last season and will team with senior middle hitter Emily Knowles (138 kills) as the go to players on offense. A pair of junior college transfers in defensive specialist Drew Myers and setter Ashley Robinson could see immediate time on the court. The Gorloks will have a deep roster that includes Samantha Budrovich and Torie Grassi, to pull from to replace First Team All-Conference outside hitter Rachel Nelson.

Spalding University was the fourth team on the preseason poll, receiving 56 total points. The Golden Eagles finished 11-19 overall last season and 10-8 in the SLIAC. They return 11 players and 6 starters including Katelyn Cosgrove, who missed 2015 with an injury. Head Coach Bridget Yates will turn to seniors Jessica Diehl and Victoria Heitzman once again. The duo combined for over 600 kills last year with Diehl earning First Team All-Conference honors as a middle hitter and Heitzman picking up Third Team honors as an outside hitter. Erin Downs, a senior middle hitter, topped 200 kills and led the SLIAC in total blocks with 104. When Cosgrove last saw the court in 2014, she was coming off an All-Conference season as a setter. The Golden Eagles lost no players from last year and will add to the roster a group of seven freshmen that includes Morgan Berning, Maddie Rosendaul, and Michaela Walker.

Fontbonne University finished fifth in the preseason poll, picking up 51 total points. The Griffins were 13-19 overall last season, making the conference tournament with an 11-7 conference record. Head Coach Meredith Heater welcomes back eight players including five starters. The Griffins will be led by senior outside hitter Kersten McDonough, who earned First Team All-Conference honors last year after leading the league in kills (461) and kills per set (3.91). Also returning is senior setter Lynsey Wehrenberg, who was named to the SLIAC All-Tournament team. In addition to McDonough, the Griffins bring back sophomores Kristina Eason, who was second on the team in kills, and Megan McKenzie, who finished third in kills. Senior libero Mariana Rogers will look to fill in for the departure of All-Conference libero Maddie Stadler. Among the newcomers joining the Griffins will be middle blocker Allison Brown, middle blocker Emma Seiz, and setter Andrea Weile.

Principia College and MacMurray College tied for sixth on the poll, with each team receiving 32 total points. Principia, coached by Mary Ann Sprague, went 13-13 overall and 10-8 in the SLIAC last season. They bring back nine players including five starters. The Panthers will be a young team this year, led by a trio of sophomores. Sophia Hathaway, an outside hitter, did it all on the court last year; leading the team in kills (328) while finishing second in assists (310) and third in digs (276). Mia Gill, a libero, and Emily Tippetts, a middle hitter, will be counted on to continue their development after each played in over 22 matches last season as true freshmen. Incoming freshman Devon Marunde, a setter, should compete for time on the court.

MacMurray went 14-20 overall and 5-13 in the conference last season. The Highlanders return three starters but head coach Danielle Doerfler brings in a freshman class of 12 to fill up the roster. They will need to replace the main part of their offense with the graduation of their leading hitter, Morgan Hauser, and their top setter, Alexa Boyer. Among those looking to step up will be returners Kennedy Magee and Abby Schockley, who each totaled over 100 kills last year. Middle Blocker Brittany Spicer showed promise in limited duty last season while setter Emily Lascody will be given the chance to run the attack. Top incoming players include a pair of freshman, Oliva Wall and Danielle Popis; and junior college transfer Brook McKinney, who was part of the Junior College National Champion runner-up team.

Iowa Wesleyan University was picked eighth in the poll with 22 total points. The Tigers finished last year with a 6-21 overall record, going 4-14 in conference play. They return 12 players including five starters. Head Coach BJ Wagy will bring in a strong class of newcomers to join the young team. Among the more experienced players returning will be senior libero Cierra Howard, who led the conference at 5.86 digs per set last season. Sophomore Cassandra Schwamborn returns after finishing second on the team in kills last year as does setter Maggie Earney, who led the team in assists. Among the top newcomers are Hunter Clark, Katie Garcia, and Gabby Smith.

Blackburn College was ninth in the poll with 17 total points after going 4-25 overall and 2-16 in the SLIAC. The Beavers will be under the guidance of first year head coach Jim Hunstein and will feature a young team that had just two seniors last year. Blackburn will turn to sophomores Emily Schroeder and Alanni Young to power their offense once again. The duo combined for over 400 kills as true freshmen and started all 29 matches. The Beavers will have to replace their top setter, Patrece McLain, but sophomore Jensen Ballinger should be up to the task after seeing plenty of action last year.

Eureka College rounds out the preseason poll, receiving nine total points. The Red Devils were 3-23 overall last season with a 1-17 conference mark. A young team last year returns 13 players and every starter. Eureka brings back four of their top five attackers from last year, led by sophomore Heather Robinson. In addition Lexi Dooley, Meagan Hanney, Ava Patterson, and Beth Mickna will be looked on to build on their experience from last year. Top newcomers include a pair of freshman in Kennedy Hostetler and McKenzie Reiners.

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