ATLANTA, Ga. (August 22, 2023) – Champions of the last three Southern Athletic Association regular seasons, Berry was picked to win again, topping the 2023 SAA volleyball preseason poll.
 
The Vikings grabbed seven first place votes and totaled 49 points in the ranking conducted among the conference’s eight head coaches. Centre was the clear No. 2 with 42 points and the remaining first place vote. Hendrix was third with 31 points, one ahead of No. 4 Sewanee.
 
2023 SAA Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. Berry - 49 pts. (7)
2. Centre - 42 pts (1)
3. Hendrix - 31 pts
4. Sewanee - 30 pts
T5. Birmingham-Southern - 26 pts
T5. Oglethorpe - 26 pts
T7. Millsaps - 10 pts
T7. Rhodes - 10 pts
The poll was conducted among the conference’s eight head coaches.
 
Berry was ranked in the top-15 nationally the entire 2022 season, climbing to as high as No. 5 in early October. They used a 13-game winning streak during the year to finish 13-1 in conference play and win a seventh SAA title. They rolled to the SAA Tournament title match and outlasted BSC in a thriller to earn a trip into the NCAA Tourney. In the NCAA bracket, the Vikings won twice and advanced to the regional final before falling to top-seed Transylvania. Conference Defensive Player of the Year Kate Whittle leads a group of three returners named All-SAA for Berry last season.
 
Centre handed the Vikings their lone conference loss last season and returns three All-SAA performers, headlined by Newcomer by Newcomer of the Year Ally Knueven. The Colonels went 18-8 overall and 9-5 in league play last season.
 
The SAA’s eight teams play a combined 14 matches on the first day of the regular season, Friday, September 1. The season culminates with the SAA Tournament, hosted by the top seed November 10-12. Fans can follow conference volleyball action all season long with live links at SAA-Sports.com.