Greensboro College Volleyball Chosen Ninth in USA South Preseason Coaches Poll

The Greensboro College volleyball team was chosen ninth of 13 teams in the USA South Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll released on Thursday. The Pride were also selected to finish sixth in the eight team USA South North Division.

Leading hitter and USA South All-Conference selection Liz Widenhouse returns to lead the offense. Widenhouse recorded 409 kills, while posting 43 service aces. She also contributed 207 digs and 23 total blocks.

Greensboro also welcomes back Megan Smith and Morgan Hooks, both of whom surpassed 125 kills in the offensive attack. Both players contributed on the front line, with Hooks recording 23 blocks and Smith adding 19.

Setter Cortland Phillips will again be relied upon to distribute the ball after leading the team with 951 assists. She also added a team best 53 service aces and picked up 201 digs.

Greensboro also welcomes back middle blockers Megan Baranko and Marquenette Fuller. In their debut seasons with The Pride, Baranko notched a team high 26 total blocks, while Fuller chipped in with 15.

Averett was selected to win the USA South North Division and was a runner-up in the overall conference standings to South Division favorite Maryville.

This is the first season that the USA South will split into divisions in the sport of volleyball. The 2013 season also marks the first for new conference members Covenant College and Huntingdon College. Both institutions were former members of the Great South Athletic Conference.

2013 USA South Volleyball Coaches Preseason Poll
Overall Voting

Rank   Institution (1st Place Votes)    Pts.
1.     Maryville (11)                   143
2.     Averett (2)                      131
3.     Piedmont                         109
4.     Covenant                         105
5.     N.C. Wesleyan                    102
6.     Methodist                         84
7.     Meredith                          77
8.     William Peace                     65
9.     Greensboro                        61
10.    Huntingdon                        58
11.    LaGrange                          39
12.    Ferrum                            28
13.    Mary Baldwin                      12

2013 USA South Volleyball Coaches Preseason Poll
North Division

Rank   Institution (1st Place Votes)    Pts.
1.     Averett (7)                       49
2.     N.C. Wesleyan (1)                 42
3.     Methodist                         33
4.     Meredith                          32
5.     William Peace                     25
6.     Greensboro                        23
7.     Ferrum                            13
8.     Mary Baldwin                      7

2013 USA South Volleyball Coaches Preseason Poll
South Division

Rank   Institution (1st Place Votes)    Pts.
1.     Maryville (4)                     16
2.     Covenant                          12
3.     Piedmont (1)                      11
4.     Huntingdon                         7
5.     LaGrange                           4