Kelcie Love

South Atlantic Conference Sports Information

ROCK HILL, S.C. – For a 19th straight season, the Wingate Bulldogs have been tabbed the preseason favorites in the 2024 SAC coaches poll.

Wingate claimed the 2023 regular season crown with a 17-1 record. However, it was Tusculum that won the SAC Tournament, the first title in program history, by topping Wingate 3-1 in the championship match.

The Bulldogs earned 11 first place votes and earned 143 points in the coaches poll.

Catawba has three ladies on the All-SAC preseason team, including Kelcie Love (West Rowan), Riley Hill (East Rowan and Jordan Danielson (Florida).

Trailing Wingate in the poll is Anderson, which earned the other two first place votes and totaled 126 points. Anderson finished the year with a 28-6 mark and was 16-2 in league play.

Lenoir-Rhyne was voted third with 120 points, just six behind the Trojans. The Bears went to the NCAA Tournament in 2023 but fell to the Bulldogs in the first round. L-R is looking for its third trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2021. Lenoir-Rhyne is coached by former South Rowan standout Nicole Barringer.

Coming in at fourth in the poll is the defending SAC tournament champion Tusculum Pioneers. Under first-year head coach Hannah Barrett the Pioneers earned 109 points.

At the number five spot is Carson-Newman with 96 points, followed closely by Catawba with 93 points.

  Poll: 1. Wingate (11) 143, 2. Anderson 126 (2), 3. Lenoir-Rhyne 120, 4. Tusculum 109, 5. Carson-Newman 96, 6. Catawba 93, 7. Mars Hill 82, 8. Limestone 68, 9. Lincoln Memorial 51, 10. Newberry 44, 11. Emory & Henry 38, 12. UVA Wose 32, 13. Coker 12.

Preseason First Team

Emmaleigh Allen, Lenoir-Rhyne

Laela Jimenez, Mars Hill (L)

Kathy Peter, Lenoir-Rhyne

Emily Johnson, Wingate

Katilyn Grant, Mars Hill

Brantley Chipley, Anderson

Kristen Moehring, Lincoln Memorial

Gabby Saye, Wingate

Second Team

Riley Hill, Catawba (L)

Madison Adkins, Tusculum

Sydney Karjala, Lenoir-Rhyne

Tatum Riddle, Limestone

Kaylee Scarce, UVA Wise

Sydney Morland, Wingate

Mia McMillen, Limestone

Jordan Danielson, Catawba

Third Team

Lyndsie Warren, Lenoir-Rhyne (L)

Martina Foster, Tusculum

Grace Duey, Emory & Henry

Lorna Stacherski, Wingate

Whitney Thompson, Tusculum

Olivia Crowl, Tusculum

Cassidy Farley, UVA Wise

Kelcie Love, Catawba