SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE FULL RELEASE

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker University volleyball team was picked tenth in the 2019 South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced by the league today (Friday, Aug. 23). Senior Taylor du Bray was also named to the preseason All-Conference First Team. 

Defending league tournament champion Wingate topped the poll with 10 first-place votes and 131 points, while Anderson (S.C.) took the remaining two first-place votes and second in the poll with 121 points. Lincoln Memorial and Carson-Newman tied for third with 104 points, while Queens (N.C.) was picked fifth with 90 points. Lenoir-Rhyne was voted sixth with 87 points, while Mars Hill was picked seventh with 67 points. Tusculum and Catawba were picked in a tie for eighth with 51 points, before Coker was picked tenth with 49 points. Newberry (46 points) and league newcomer UVA-Wise (23 points) rounded out the poll. 

The Cobras enter their first season under new head coach Travis Nead, after going 13-16 a season ago including five wins in conference play. Last season, du Bray was named to the All-Conference Honorable Mention Team for the second consecutive season. A season ago, du Bray set Coker single-season records in kills (373) and kills per set (3.73), while her 373 kills were second in the conference. The Highlands Ranch, Colo. native is the daughter of John du Bray and Midge Maguire, and is a business administration and economics major. 

The Cobras open the 2019 campaign on Sept. 6 when they take on Grand Valley State and Fayetteville State at UNC Pembroke as part of a season-opening tournament.