ATLANTA, Ga. (August 25, 2022) –  Coming off a run to the NCAA Division III national quarterfinals and a conference championship a year ago, Berry was voted atop the 2022 Southern Athletic Association volleyball preseason poll, it was announced Thursday.

The Vikings, ranked No. 6 in the AVCA preseason national poll, earned 63 points and seven first place votes to top the SAA ranking for the second-straight season. Birmingham-Southern was second with 55 points and the other first place nod. Hendrix came in third with 46 points, followed by Sewanee (37) and Centre (29) in the top-five.    

2022 SAA Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. Berry - 63 pts. (7)
2. Birmingham-Southern - 55 pts. (1)
3. Hendrix - 46 pts.
4. Sewanee - 37 pts.
5. Centre - 29 pts.
6. Rhodes - 21 pts.
7. Oglethorpe - 20 pts.
8. Millsaps - 17 pts.

The poll was conducted among the SAA’s eight volleyball head coaches.

Berry is 61-4 in SAA matches over the last five seasons, winning four conference titles in that span. BSC is the only team to beat the Vikings in conference play since October 2016. All-America setter and 2021 SAA Player of the Year Emily Rapach returns to lead the Vikings roster that also features SAA Newcomer of the Year Cypress Guenther. In all, Berry returns six All-SAA performers from last year’s historic team.

Birmingham-Southern was runner-up in the SAA last season with a league mark of 10-4. Six Panthers earned All-SAA status with five returning in 2022, headlined by first teamers Kennedy Dickens and Alyssa Coats. Hendrix brings back two of its All-SAA performers from last year’s team that went 13-13 overall and 9-5 in conference play.

SAA teams will play a total of 28 matches over the season’s opening weekend, starting with BSC at Huntingdon and Centre hosting Spalding on September 1. The other six schools start their seasons the following day, playing at various invitationals across five different states.

Fans can follow SAA volleyball all season long with coverage and live links on SAA-Sports.com.