GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE 2017 Volleyball Preseason Release | August 8, 2017

Contact: Nick Moeller, Assistant Commissioner for Sports Information | [email protected] Phone: (205) 991-9880 | Fax: (205) 437-0505 | Twitter: @GulfSouth | Facebook: The Gulf South Conference | Instagram: gscsports UNA SELECTED AS PRESEASON CONFERENCE FAVORITE

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of , the two-time defending GSC Champions, will enter the sea- son as the coaches’ preseason favorite.

North Alabama took nine first place votes in this year’s preseason poll. In 2016, the Lions posted a GSC-best 29-6 record, including a 16-4 conference record. UNA was first in the conference in hitting percentage (.279), assists per set (13.20), and kills per set (14.15).

Just five points behind UNA, West Florida was selected second, taking four first place votes. The Argos finished last -sea son with a 26-10 record and a 17-3 record in the conference. In 2016, UWF was first in the GSC in blocks-per-set (2.20) and second in hitting percentage (.260), assists per set (12.44), and kills per set (13.47).

Shorter was picked third, followed by 2014 GSC Champions Valdosta State in fourth and Christian Brothers rounding out the top five.

Two new members will join the league in 2017: Auburn Montgomery and Montevallo. AUM will compete as a provisional member while transitioning into NCAA Division II. Games against the Warhawks will count in the conference standings, but AUM will not be eligible for awards or postseason play. This will be the inaugural season for AUM’s volleyball team. Montevallo returns to the GSC after changing conference affiliation in 2009. The Falcons are a full-time member and will be eligible for all awards and championships in 2017-18.

The 2017 Preseason All-GSC Team features nine student-athletes. North Alabama leads all teams with three selections, while the other six honorees come from six different institutions. For UNA,Lexie Bradley, Ashtyn Kapovich, and Jes- sica Austin were named to the team. All three Lions were all-conference selections last year. Emma Lenoir, the 2016 GSC Freshman of the Year, represents CBU on the squad. West Alabama’s Briana Sandifer and Lee’s Silvia Sartori, who finished second and third in the conference in kills-per-set (3.86 and 3.48, respectively), were also selected. Montevallo’s Kristy Bohan will be playing her first season in the GSC, but earned this preseason recognition after being named the ’s Player of the Year in 2016. Monique StCyr has been an all-conference selection the previous three years for the Argos. Shorter’s Tiffani Estep is one of four First Team All-GSC honorees from 2016 who will return to the court in 2017.

2017 GSC VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL

School Total Points 1. North Alabama (9) 141 2. West Florida (4) 136 3. Shorter 118 4. Valdosta State 100 5. Christian Brothers 91 6. Lee 89 7. Alabama Huntsville 79 8. West Alabama 69 9. Montevallo 63 10. Union 59 11. 34 12. West Georgia 23 13. Auburn Montgomery 12

NOTES: The head coaches voted in this poll. Teams received 12 points for a first place vote, 11 for a second place vote, etc. The head coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams. Number of first place votes in parenthesis.

2017 GSC Preseason Volleyball Release 1 www.gscsports.org 2017 PRESEASON ALL-GSC TEAM POS NAME SCHOOL YEAR HOMETOWN MB Jessica Austin^ North Alabama SR Farmington Hills, Mich. MB Kristy Bohan Montevallo SR Huntsville, Ala. OH Lexie Bradley*^ North Alabama SR Florence, Ala. MB Tiffani Estep* Shorter SR Chattanooga, Tenn. DS Ashtyn Kapovich^* North Alabama SR Lansing, Ill. OH Emma Lenoir Christian Brothers SO Chattanooga, Tenn. OH Briana Sandifer^* West Alabama SR Huntsville, Ala. OH Silvia Sartori*^ Lee JR Belgrade, Serbia S Monique StCyr**^ West Florida SR Williamsburg, Va.

NOTES: The 2017 Preseason All-GSC Volleyball Team was selected by the head coaches. Ties were not broken. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.

*Indicates Previous First Team All-GSC Selection ^Indicates Previous Second Team All-GSC Selection

2017 TOP NEWCOMERS POS NAME SCHOOL YEAR HOMETOWN | LAST SCHOOL OH Abby Brooks Alabama Huntsville FR Huntsville, Ala. | Madison Academy S Sabrina Duncan Alabama Huntsville FR Huntsville, Ala. | Huntsville RS Kheala Roberts Auburn Montgomery JR Danville, Ala. | Wallace State - Hanceville S Carly Smart Auburn Montgomery JR Columbus, Ga. | Valdosta State OH Kapria Manning Christian Brothers FR Olive Branch, Miss. | Center Hill L/DS Ke’alohilani Wong Christian Brothers FR Honolulu, Hawaii | Kapiolani CC RS Quinne Daoust Lee FR Glendale, Ariz. | Arizona MB Alex Reuter Lee JR Brentwood, Tenn. | Trevecca Nazarene S Tessa Liljenquist Mississippi College FR Dyersburg, Tenn. | Dyersburg RS/OH Hannah Rue Mississippi College FR Muscle Shoals, Ala. | Muscle Shoals OH Amanda Nugent Montevallo FR Cumming, Ga. | South Forsyth OH Evelina Teran Montevallo FR Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. | Choctawhatchee RS/OH Christina Ellwanger North Alabama FR Simpsonville, S.C. | Hillcrest S Mere Nagase North Alabama FR San Leandro, Calif. | San Leandro MB Paris Buckner Shorter FR Cleveland, Tenn. | Baylor School S Tinsley Fain Shorter JR Boiling Springs, S.C. | Gardner-Webb MB Kristen Bukowsky Union FR Highland Village, Texas | Edward Marcus OH Clare Taylor Union JR Jackson, Tenn. | Trevecca Nazarene DS Chelsea Chavers Valdosta State JR Brandon, Fla. | College of Central Florida OH Chloe’ Chubilleau Valdosta State JR Saint-Brieuc, France | Nantes OH Bret Luther West Alabama FR Dallas, Ga. | Oak Mountain S Kassie Till West Alabama FR Fort Wayne, Ind. | Carroll MB Kenzie Chrisman West Florida JR Sterling, Colo. | Chadron State OH Nadine Williams West Florida JR Jacksonville, Fla. | Santa Fe S Paige Peterson West Georgia FR Milton, Ga. | Cambridge OH Anjelina Webb West Georgia FR Fayetteville, Ga. | Whitewater

NOTE: Top newcomers are submitted by the head coaches during the Preseason All-GSC nomination process.

2017 GSC Preseason Volleyball Release 2 www.gscsports.org