The Old Dominion Athletic Conference's volleyball coaches voted University of Lynchburg sixth in the league's annual preseason poll, the ODAC office announced Monday afternoon.
Lynchburg garnered 92 points in the poll to sit sixth in the 13-team ballot. Defending conference champion Washington and Lee was the unanimous favorite with 12 first-place votes and 144 points, followed by Virginia Wesleyan second, Randolph-Macon third, league-newcomer Averett fourth, and Bridgewater fifth. Lynchburg was comfortably sixth ahead of seventh-picked Eastern Mennonite (84 points).
The Hornets are looking to build on momentum from last autumn's 7-4 record in league play. Lynchburg was 11-12 overall in head coach Hannah Givens' second season directing the program. The Hornets finished the conference season with four straight wins before bowing out to Bridgewater in the quarterfinal round of the ODAC tournament.
Senior outside hitter Abbi Leeper is the lone all-conference returner for Lynchburg – Leeper was a second-team All-ODAC pick in 2021 and a first-teamer in 2020 – and she is rejoined by classmate Calli Clevinger, a right-side hitter who missed last season due to injury. Junior middle Princess Salifou and sophomores Jordan Bartemeyer (defensive specialist), Mya Green (setter), and Sophia Rucker (middle/right side) join 10 freshmen to round out a talented but young roster.
Lynchburg opens the season on the road this weekend with three matches in Lancaster, Pa., starting with a Friday, Sept. 2, 7 p.m. match against Franklin & Marshall at Lancaster Bible College.
Visit Lynchburg athletics' home online, LynchburgSports.com, anytime for up-to-the-minute news on all Hornets sports and coverage from the Lynchburg Hornets Sports Network. Click here to sign up for email and text alerts from Lynchburg athletics.
Give Lynchburg Sports a like on Facebook, and follow Lynchburg athletics on Instagram and Twitter.
2022 ODAC VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL
| (#) Denotes First Place Votes | |
| 1. Washington and Lee University (12) | 144 pts. |
| 2. Virginia Wesleyan University (1) | 122 pts. |
| 3. Randolph-Macon College | 119 pts. |
| 4. Averett University | 106 pts. |
| 5. Bridgewater College | 102 pts. |
| 6. University of Lynchburg | 92 pts. |
| 7. Eastern Mennonite University | 84 pts. |
| 8. Roanoke College | 70 pts. |
| 9. Shenandoah University | 58 pts. |
| 10. Guilford College | 42 pts. |
| 11. Randolph College | 38 pts. |
| 12. Ferrum College | 23 pts. |
| 13. Hollins University | 14 pts. |
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up