August 26, 2019

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. - Two-time defending champion Christopher Newport secured unanimous top billing in the 2019 Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) Volleyball Preseason Poll. The Captains received five first-place votes and tallied 25 points to earn the top position in a preseason vote among the conference head coaches. 

Mary Washington, which fell to CNU in a thrilling five-setter for the CAC championship match last fall, earned one first-place votes and 20 points to finish second in the voting. 

York notched 15 points to claim third in the rankings, followed by Salisbury (14 points) and Southern Virginia (11 points) in fourth and fifth place, respectively. St. Mary's closed out the preseason rankings in sixth with five votes. 

The 2019 season opens up on Friday, Aug. 30, with conference play beginning in late September. The CAC Championship match is set for Saturday, Nov. 9. 

2019 CAC Volleyball Preseason Poll

Below is a team-by-team capsule entering the 2019 campaign: 

After winning its fifth CAC title in the past six years, CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT enters 2019 with high expectations. Ranked 22nd in the AVCA Preseason National Coaches Poll, head coach Lindsay Birch's team is coming off a season in which the team posted a 26-6 overall record en route to the team's second straight and fifth overall CAC Championship. The Captains made the program's 12th straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the second round of the postseason. Two Captains earned All-American plaudits including returning junior opposite Megan O'Hara, while senior middle blocker Riley Garrison also returns after hauling in AVCA All-Region honors.

MARY WASHINGTON enters a new era as head coach, Alex Hinsey, will begin his first year leading the Eagles. Hinsey will look to guide UMW to their second straight NCAA tournament appearance this season. The front line will be led by 2018 CAC Player of the Year, Savannah Powers, and 2017 first team All-CAC performer, Peyton Dunow. Both players finished top eight in the CAC in kills last season. Looking to rack up the assists for UMW will be 2017 CAC Rookie of the Year, Wren Berry. Other key performers include Tenley Hares and Kendal Hall.

YORK welcomes back a strong core of players who helped the Spartans earn their first berth in the CAC semifinals since 2011. Senior All-CAC middle hitter Madyson Whitcomb headlines the Spartan attack as she hit .398 with 249 kills in 500 attacks. She led the Spartans in points (309) and total blocks (96) as she played in 103 sets for the year. Fellow senior Hannah Siaurusaitis will be an important part of the rotation after hitting .205 as a junior with 155 kills. Other key returners include Gabby Emeigh (setter), Emily Pupo (libero), and Jordan Cotone (outside hitter) while head coach Dan Mickle welcomes in 11 freshmen, many of which who will have ample opportunity to get floor time in their first years in the Green and White. 

SALISBURY is looking to improve on last season's 16-11 overall record and 3-4 CAC record. The Sea Gulls advanced to the CAC semifinals last season before falling to Mary Washington in a thrilling, 3-2, match. The team will be anchored by two of the three All-CAC players from last season, Carley Cleland and Hailey Dougherty, who earned first and second team honors respectively. It was the first time either player earned all-conference recognition. Cleland finished the 2018 season posting a career-high in kills, 214, total attacks, 570, and hitting percentage, posting a mark of .291. Dougherty completed her junior season tallied 524 digs, averaging 5.09 per set, which ranked her third in the CAC.  

After posting a 15-10 overall record last season, the SOUTHERN VIRGINIA Knights have their eyes set to surpass last year's success. Southern Virginia returns All-CAC First Teamer LaRee Crockett to lead the team with incoming freshman Kylee Christenson and transfers Taryn Warner and Elle Warnick who will look to make an immediate impact on the court. The Knights will look this year for a deep run in postseason play.

ST. MARY'S is coming off a 14-18 overall record and finished 1-6 in CAC play. However, they return four out of six starters and bring back eleven total players. Senior Emily Benedict was fourth in the CAC last year with .47 service aces per set and will look to add onto those numbers this upcoming season. Junior captain Ellyse Sutliff will also be back as the returning team leader in kills with 256 last year, which was good for 12 overall in conference. Joining Sutliff with the captain responsibilities will be a duo of sophomores in Fatima Bouzid and Chanel Lucas. Additionally, the coaching staff will welcome five newcomers to the Seahawks young roster which will total sixteen student-athletes this fall.