GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Louisville was named the preseason favorite to win the 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference Volleyball Championship for the second year in a row following a vote of the league’s head coaches. The Cardinals received eight first-place votes while Pitt garnered seven. Pitt finished second in the voting with 189 points, just one point behind the Cardinals.
Louisville and Pitt come into the 2023 season following their historic All-ACC match-up in the 2022 NCAA Semifinals after securing their spots as ACC Co-Champions with each recording 31 wins. The Cardinals led all schools with five student-athletes on the Preseason All-ACC Team with Anna DeBeer, Aiko Jones, Phekran Kong, Charitie Luper and Elena Scott, while Pitt had four honorees with Rachel Fairbanks, Bre Kelley, Chiamaka Nwokolo and Valeria Vazquez Gomez.
Miami came in third with 161 points, followed by Florida State and Georgia Tech tied at fourth with 153 points. North Carolina earned 126 points and was picked sixth, while Duke (109 points), NC State (104), Wake Forest (82) and Notre Dame (77) rounded out the top 10. The Irish were followed by Clemson (73), Boston College (54), Virginia (42), Syracuse (40) and Virginia Tech (22).
Three teams earned spots in the final American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll following last season: Louisville at No. 2, Pitt at No. 4 and Georgia Tech at No. 16. The first AVCA poll of the 2023 season will be released later this month.
ACC Volleyball is poised for yet another outstanding year after an appearance in the national championship, two teams in the national semifinals for the second time in league history and five NCAA teams.
2023 Preseason Coaches Poll
Louisville, 190 (8)
Pitt, 189 (7)
Miami, 161
Florida State, 153
Georgia Tech, 153
North Carolina, 126
Duke, 109
NC State, 104
Wake Forest, 82
Notre Dame, 77
Clemson, 73
Boston College, 54
Virginia, 42
Syracuse, 40
Virginia Tech, 22
2023 Preseason Volleyball All-ACC Team
Mckenna Slavic, Clemson, Gr., S
Gracie Johnson, Duke, Gr., OH
Audrey Koenig, Florida State, Jr., OH
Khouri Louis, Florida State, Jr., MB
Bianca Bertolino, Georgia Tech, Jr., OH
Bella D’Amico, Georgia Tech, Jr., S
Anna DeBeer, Louisville, Sr., OH
Aiko Jones, Louisville, Gr., OPP
Phekran Kong, Louisville, Sr., MB
Charitie Luper, Louisville, Jr.,…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Atlantic Coast Conference…