Volleyball Picked Sixth in 2023 AAC Preseason Poll

Waleska, Georgia- In the 2023 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Women’s Volleyball Coaches’ Poll, the Brenau volleyball team was voted sixth by the conference coaches. 

The Golden Tigers return ten letter winners from last year’s squad, including 2022 NAIA All-American and AAC First-Team performer outside hitter Mary Ellen Enright and AAC second team setter Gabrielle Hogle. 

Head coach Michael Carter also adds newcomers Claire Beckman, Mason Holtzclaw, Jomaris Maldonado, Nathalia Quintero, Natalie Wilhoit and Madelynn Woodard to the roster.  

CIU received 11 of the 14 first-place votes to claim the top spot with 199 voting points. Bryan collected two first-place votes to land second with 191 voting points.

Last season, CIU and Bryan finished first and second, respectively, in the regular season with CIU winning the AAC Tournament championship.

Reinhardt, Bluefield, and Milligan round out the top five with Reinhardt receiving the only other first-place vote.

The top 10 teams in the regular season advance to the AAC Tournament, which is set for Nov. 9-11 in Kingsport, Tenn.

Here is the entire poll:

AAC Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll

School (First-Place Vote) - Total Voting Points

1. Columbia International (11) - 199

2. Bryan (2) - 191

3. Reinhardt (1) - 184

4. Bluefield - 158

5. Milligan - 155

6. Brenau - 137

7. Truett McConnell - 134

8. Union - 111

9. Johnson - 96

10. St. Andrews - 81

11. Montreat - 74

12. Kentucky Christian - 57