Volleyball: Flagler Selected Fourth in PBC Preseason Poll
AUGUSTA, Ga.- Flagler College volleyball was tabbed fourth in the Peach Belt Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll Thursday Morning (Aug. 29). Returning outside hitter Jordan Berglin nabbed an all-conference bid.
In the 2023 season, Flagler finished 8-19 overall and 4-8 in the PBC as the season came to an end in the conference tournament.Augusta University, the defending league champions in both the regular season and tournament play, were selected to top the PBC with 15 votes including three first place bids. Lander University, the league runners up, were tabbed to finish second with only one vote separating them from Augusta. Lander got 14 votes including two for first place. USC Aiken was projected to finish third with 10 votes while Georgia College & State University was selected at number five with four votes.
The Saints return one of the top hitters in the conference in Berglin who received a Preseason All-Conference spot. Berglin was the kills leader a season ago for the Saints with 276 kills good for 2.82 per set in 27 matches. She also tallied 180 digs with 1.84 per set along with 54 blocks. Berglin enters the 2024 season with the third most kills in the PBC of the returning hitters.
Flagler also returns one the foremost blockers in the PBC, Molly Boyd. The senior tallied 124 blocks just four shy of the top slot alongside 1.27 blocks per set. The Saints also return both assist leaders in Lainee Mack and Amelia Fitzpatrick. Mack and Fitzpatrick tag-teamed the setter position last season with 362 assists and 358 respectively.
The Saints will kick off the season in the Bahama House Classic hosted by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Friday, Sept. 6 against Georgian Court University at 3 p.m.
2024 Peach Belt Conference Preseason Coaches Poll
2. Lander (2) 14
3. USC Aiken 10
4. Flagler 7
5. Georgia College & State University 4
First place votes in parenthesis
2024 Peach Belt Conference All-Conference Team
Jordan Berglin, Flagler
Janvier Buggs, Augusta
Lauren Dow, Lander
Olivia Dow, Lander
Sophia Kruczko, Augusta
Emily Lammers, USC Aiken
Katie Miller, Lander