Generals, Yellow Jackets Share First Place Votes

FOREST, Va. --- The 2018 season opens with one of tightest preseason polls in recent ODAC volleyball history as Washington and Lee University holds the top position by just one point over Randolph-Macon College in the annual coach's survey. The Generals garnered 139 total points powered by seven first place votes, while the three-time defending champion Yellow Jackets secured the remaining six top nods on the way to 138 tallies.

Just four points separates third and fourth place with Virginia Wesleyan University in the show position with 116 points. Bridgewater College sits fourth with 112 markers, while the University of Lynchburg also tops 100 points right on the century mark.

The 2017 ODAC Tournament saw Randolph-Macon and Washington and Lee meet for the second straight year in the league's final match. The two squads went back-and-forth over the first four sets with W&L claiming games one (25-20) and three (25-22) and R-MC pulling out stanza's two (25-18) and four (25-20). The deciding fifth set needed an extra point with Randolph-Macon lifting the ODAC hardware with a 16-14 win for a 3-2 triumph. The title marked six overall for R-MC and completed a second streak of three straight championships, joining the Yellow Jackets trio of trophies from 2009-11.

R-MC was the lone ODAC representative in the NCAA Division III Volleyball Tournament for a third straight season. Randolph-Macon, which reached the national quarterfinals in 2015 and went 1-1 in 2016, had a shorter than expected stay in the 2017 bracket via a 3-0 first round loss to Swarthmore College in regional play at Stevenson University.

RELATED: 2017 ODAC Tournament Results | 2017 NCAA Tournament Results

The graduation of a large senior class across the league has left predicting the 2018 slate difficult in terms of returning talent. Only four squads feature 2017 All-ODAC honorees, with the total number sitting at nine returning standouts from a list of 21.

Washington and Lee and Randolph-Macon colors account for all four of the All-ODAC First Team stars back for another run. The Generals, which boast a league-best three returning award winners, are buoyed by outside hitter Meg Guignon and middle blocker Courtney Berry, who doubled as the ODAC Rookie of the Year. W&L also features All-ODAC Second Team outside hitter Brynne Gould.

Randolph-Macon and four-time reigning ODAC Coach of the Year Bill Rogers must replace a trio of all-conference athletes. Helping do just that are first team outside hitters Mariah Clark and Miranda Hall. Hall earned ODAC Player of the Year laurels last season, joining former Yellow Jackets Erin Quinn in 2016 and Courtney Lowers in 2014 and 2015 as four-straight R-MC players earning the ODAC's top honor.

The remaining four all-conference athletes don Bridgewater College and Guilford College team kits. The Eagles feature second team outside hitter Rachel Gaston as well as All-ODAC Third Team setter Victoria Wilson. The Quakers welcome back a pair of third teamers in setter Tina Eucker and outside hitter/defensive specialist Christian Ritter.

RELATED: 2017 All-ODAC Volleyball Awards

The ODAC ranks are one team larger this year with the addition of Ferrum College as the conference's 15th full-time member institution. The volleyball Panthers, led by fourth-year head coach Ruthanne Duffy, went 6-22 in 2017 and competed out of the USA South Athletic Conference.

The 2018 season begins with non-conference play on Friday, August 31.  The first ODAC matches are slated for Tuesday, September 11. The schedule comes to a head with the conference tournament beginning with quarterfinal play at the top four seeds on Wednesday, October 31. The highest remaining team will host the final four on Friday-Saturday, November 2-3. If you can't make it to the matches, be sure to check the schedules online for live video, audio, and/or statistics links.

Listed below is the 2018 ODAC Volleyball Preseason Poll as well as preview capsules for each of the ODAC volleyball programs and a video interview with head coach Bryan Snyder from top-ranked Washington and Lee.  For more information on ODAC volleyball, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.  Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram.

	2018 Poll Position: 4th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 19-7/8-3 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #4/Eliminated in Quarterfinals (LYN, 3-1) Head Coach: Erin Harris Overall Record/Yrs: 110-106 (.509)/7 Record at BC/Yrs: 110-106 (.509)/7 ODAC Record/Yrs: 42-34 (.553)/7 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: Rachel Gaston (OH)   Third Team: Victoria Wilson (S) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Kills: 235 | Rachel Gaston   Att. Pct: .287 | Madison Haynes   Assists: 614 | Victoria Wilson   Digs: 245 | Taylor McNeely   Blocks (T-S/A): 39-8/31 | Madison Haynes   Aces: 38 | Jenna Hamra				2018 Poll Position: 8th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 11-17/3-8 2018 Tournament - Seed/Result: Eliminated in Quarterfinals (RMC, 3-0) Head Coach: Carrie Bert Overall Record/Yrs: 30-52 (.366)/3 Record at EMU/Yrs: 30-52 (.366)/3 ODAC Record/Yrs: 7-26 (.212)/3 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Kills: 168 | Maria Yoder   Att. Pct: .222 | Maria Yoder   Assists: 276 | Carly Gingerich   Digs: 178 | Ginny Sorrell   Blocks (T-S/A): 62-19/43 | Beck Hoskins   Blocks (T-S/A): 62-15/47 | Maria Yoder   Aces: 33 | Maria Yoder
	2018 Poll Position: 11th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 7-21/3-8 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Kyla King Overall Record/Yrs: First Season Record at EHC/Yrs: First Season ODAC Record/Yrs: First Season Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Kills: 300 | Tori Holmberg   Att. Pct: .185 | Rebecca Morehouse   Assists: 847 | Sam McCauley   Digs: 408 | Lauren Coolidge   Blocks (T-S/A): 53-26/27 | Megan Stitzer   Aces: 42 | Sam McCauley				2018 Poll Position: 12th 2017 Records - Overall/USAS: 6-22/2-14 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Ruthanne Duffy Overall Record/Yrs: 38-55 (.409)/3 Record at FC/Yrs: 38-55 (.409)/3 ODAC Record/Yrs: First Season Returning All-USAS Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Kills: 267 | Cheyenne Strickland   Att. Pct: .200 | Chemaiya Jordan   Assists: 334 | Cheyenne Strickland   Digs: 296 | Cheyenne Strickland   Blocks (T-S/A): 48-13/35 | Chemaiya Jordan   Aces: 27 | Samantha Sabater
	2018 Poll Position: 7th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 12-11/5-6 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #7/Eliminated in Quarterfinals (W&L, 3-0) Head Coach: Emily Gann Overall Record/Yrs: 125-215 (.3368)/12 Record at GC/Yrs: 125-215 (.3368)/12 ODAC Record/Yrs: 37-89 (.294)/12 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: Tina Eucker (S), Christian Ritter (DS) Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Kills: 208 | Christian Ritter   Att. Pct: .219 | Jasmine Gaines   Assists: 666 | Tina Eucker   Digs: 310 | Christian Ritter   Blocks (T-S/A): 35-3/32 | Michaela Allred   Aces: 39 | Christian Ritter				2018 Poll Position: 13th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 6-21/0-11 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Kat Lawson Overall Record/Yrs: 12-65 (.156)/3 Record at HU/Yrs: 12-65 (.156)/3 ODAC Record/Yrs: 0-33 (.000)/3 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Kills: 155 | Brie Faircloth   Att. Pct: .192 | Kiki Speights   Assists: 352 | Sarah Freeman   Digs: 320 | Hannah Piatak   Blocks (T-S/A): 37-15/22 | Kiki Speights   Aces: 60 | Courtney Chappell
	2018 Poll Position: 5th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 17-8/7-4 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: #5/Eliminated in Semifinals (RMC, 3-0) Head Coach: Elizabeth Ellinger Overall Record/Yrs: 213-138 (.607)/12 Record at LYN/Yrs: 213-138 (.607)/12 ODAC Record/Yrs: 81-46 (.638)/12 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Kills: 199 | Sydney Frink   Att. Pct: .244 | Lindsey Lang   Assists: 327 | Erin Farina   Digs: 460 | Lauren Stanford   Blocks (T-S/A): 40-3/37 | Lindsey Lang   Aces: 30 | Erin Farina				2018 Poll Position: 9th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 8-19/3-8 2016 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Kara Matthews Overall Record/Yrs: 40-72 (.357)/4 Record at RAND/Yrs: 40-72 (.357)/4 ODAC Record/Yrs: 15-29 (.341)/4 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Kills: 250 | Autumn Troxell   Att. Pct: .145 | Autumn Troxell   Assists: 555 | Brooks Gillerlain   Digs: 379 | Kennedy Webb   Blocks (T-S/A): 42-15/27 | Lauren Morgan   Aces: 41 | Brooks Gillerlain
	2018 Poll Position: 2nd 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 23-7/11-0 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #1/Champion (def. W&L, 3-2) 2017 NCAA Tournament: 0-1 (Swarthmore, 3-0) Head Coach: Bill Rogers Overall Record/Yrs: 371-146 (.718)/16 Record at R-MC/Yrs: 371-146 (.718)/16 ODAC Record/Yrs: 150-18 (.893)/16 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Mariah Clark (OH), Miranda Hall (OH-POY)   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Kills: 308 | Miranda Hall   Att. Pct: .282 | Emily Fitzwater   Assists: 395 | Angela Tender   Digs: 167 | Angela Tender   Blocks (T-S/A): 86-9/77 | Emily Fitzwater   Aces: 31 | Mariah Clark				2018 Poll Position: 6th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 9-16/5-6 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #6/Eliminated in Quarterfinals (VWU, 3-2) Head Coach: Blair Trail Overall Record/Yrs: 335-229 (.594)/19 Record at RC/Yrs: 335-229 (.594)/19 ODAC Record/Yrs: 118-79 (.599) /19 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Kills: 183 | Meagan Smith   Att. Pct: .153 | Meagan Smith   Assists: 155 | Emerson Kern   Digs: 114 | Sydney Daniel   Blocks (T-S/A): 34-5/29 | Meagan Smith   Aces: 19 | Emerson Kern
	2018 Poll Position: 10th 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 10-18/3-8 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: Did not qualify Head Coach: Jaime Terenzi Overall Record/Yrs: 151-185 (.449)/11 Record at SU/Yrs: 120-122 (.496)/8 ODAC Record/Yrs: 27-39 (.409)/6 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Kills: 215 | Caylin Harris   Att. Pct: .265 | Caylin Harris   Assists: 479 | Megan Hillyard   Digs: 571 | Nicole Shannon   Blocks (T-S/A): 95-20/75 | Emily Cheatwood   Aces: 32 | Megan Hillyard/Nicole Shannon				2018 Poll Position: 3rd 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 19-10/8-3 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #3/Eliminated in Semifinals (W&L, 3-1) Head Coach: Andrea Hoover Overall Record/Yrs: 237-142 (.625)/12 Record at VWU/Yrs: 237-142 (.625)/12 ODAC Record/Yrs: 87-39 (.690)/12 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: None   Second Team: None   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Kills: 271 | Doneisha Hall   Att. Pct: .211 | Amber Matalus   Assists: 480 | Meghan Wood   Digs: 347 | Amber Matalus   Blocks (T-S/A): 73-10/63 | Amber Matalus   Aces: 35 | Amber Matalus
	2018 Poll Position: 1st 2017 Records - Overall/ODAC: 24-10/10-1 2017 Tournament - Seed/Result: #2/Runner-up (RMC, 3-2) Head Coach: Bryan Snyder Overall Record/Yrs: 528-174 (.752)/20 Record at WLU/Yrs: 487-149 (.766)/18 ODAC Record/Yrs: 164-15 (.916)/18 Returning All-ODAC Players   First Team: Courtney Berry (MB-ROY), Meg Guignon (OH)   Second Team: Brynne Gould (OH)   Third Team: None Top Returning Statistical Leaders   Kills: 342 | Meg Guignon   Att. Pct: .337 | Courtney Berry   Assists: 317 | Mollie Ray   Digs: 383 | Meg Guignon   Blocks (T-S/A): 135-25/110 | Courtney Berry   Aces: 29 | Ashleigh Meade