Volleyball picked sixth in ACC preseason poll

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From SMUMustangs.com:

Volleyball Picked Sixth In ACC Preseason Poll

CHARLOTTE (The ACC/SMU) – SMU has been picked to finish sixth in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) by the coaches in the 2024 Preseason Coaches' Poll, league officials announced Thursday.

The Mustangs garnered 199 points, trailing Pitt, Stanford, Louisville, Georgia Tech, and Florida State in the poll, all teams who reached the NCAA Tournament a season ago.

"It is a testament to the build we have happening here in Dallas to be picked in the top third of the ACC in our inaugural season," said Head Coach Sam Erger." We are one of three new kids on the block, the only one coming from the G5 level, and in the company of National Champions and Final Four programs, so I think this confirms that we belong here. Our team knows these polls have no bearing once we step on the court, but it does reflect a larger view of the potential of this 2024 group and our program as a whole. For that, we are honored and excited to get started."

SMU enters a league with seven teams that reached the NCAA Tournament last year, led by No. 1 seed Pitt, who was picked to win the league after their Final Four run last year.

Erger's second season on the Hilltop was one for the record books in 2023. She was named the 2023 American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year after the Mustangs finished the season with a 26-7 overall record, highlighted by winning the AAC Championship.

SMU finished league play with an 18-1 record, marking the best conference winning percentage in program history (.947), resulting in the first conference title since 2016.

The Mustangs finished the year receiving 46 votes in the final American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Poll.

SMU also finished 22nd in the NCAA RPI Rankings, the highest finish in program history, earning five wins over Top-50 RPI teams, including No. 27 Baylor, No. 28 Florida State, No. 38 Wichita State, No. 44 Pepperdine, and No. 46 Texas State.

The Mustangs open the 2024 season on August 30 at Hawaii. The Mustangs will host the 2023 NCAA runner-up Nebraska for their home opener on September 3 at 7 p.m. CT.


2024 Preseason ACC Volleyball Coaches Poll
First-place votes in parentheses

1. Pitt (13), 285
2. Stanford (3), 268
3. Louisville (2), 265
4. Georgia Tech, 230
5. Florida State, 226
6. SMU, 199
7. Miami, 197
8. NC State, 187
9. Duke, 140
10. North Carolina, 135
11. Wake Forest, 121
12. California, 109
13. Notre Dame, 105
14. Clemson, 92
15. Boston College, 86
16. Virginia, 55
17. Virginia Tech, 37
18. Syracuse, 17

2024 Preseason Volleyball All-ACC Team
Taylor Head, Florida State
Audrey Koenig, Florida State
Khori Louis, Florida State
Bianca Bertolino, Georgia Tech
Tamara Otene, Georgia Tech
Cara Cresse, Louisville
Anna DeBeer, Louisville
Charitie Luper, Louisville
Elena Scott, Louisville
Grace Lopez, Miami
Mabrey Shaffmaster, North Carolina
Olivia Babcock, Pitt
Rachel Fairbanks, Pitt
Torrey Stafford, Pitt
Sami Francis, Stanford
Kami Miner, Stanford
Elena Oglivie, Stanford
Elia Rubin, Stanford