Lady Flames Picked 5th in ASUN Preseason Volleyball Poll
8/11/2022 2:13:59 PM | Women's Volleyball
Liberty has been voted to finish fifth in the ASUN Preseason Volleyball Poll, released Thursday by the league office. The poll was voted on by all 14 of the conference’s head coaches.
Defending ASUN champion FGCU was voted the preseason favorite by the head coaches, with 191 total points and 13 first-place votes after earning a first-round victory at the 2021 NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship. Last year’s ASUN tournament runner-up Jacksonville State received 167 points for second, while Kennesaw State is listed third with 157. Lipscomb (138), Liberty (134) and North Florida (133) took fourth through sixth, respectively, while newcomer Austin Peay (104) and Stetson (91) round out the top eight.
Eastern Kentucky is ninth with 87, followed closely in 10th by Central Arkansas (83). North Alabama (64), Jacksonville (50), Bellarmine (43) and Queens (28) are 11th through 14th, in that order.
Liberty went 10-14 during the 2021 fall campaign, finishing fifth in the ASUN East Division with a 6-10 ASUN record. The Lady Flames welcome 10 newcomers, including three impact transfers and a strong, deep incoming class with seven freshmen.
Liberty begins its 2022 fall schedule on Aug. 26 at a tournament hosted by VCU. The Lady Flames host two tournaments for the first time in program history, with their home opener being Sep. 2 against Winthrop. Liberty’s conference schedule opens with a home match against Queens on Sept. 23, part of a home-and-home weekend series with the Royals.
The ASUN Volleyball Championship will be hosted by Lipscomb in Nashville, Tenn. Nov. 17-19, with the winner of the eight-team tournament earning the ASUN’s automatic berth to the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship.
2022 ASUN Conference Preseason Fall Volleyball Poll
Team (First-place votes) – Points
1. FGCU (13) 191
2. Jacksonville State 167
3. Kennesaw State 157
4. Lipscomb 138
5. Liberty 134
6. North Florida 133
7. Austin Peay 104
8. Stetson 91
9. Eastern Kentucky 87
10. Central Arkansas 83
11. North Alabama 64
12. Jacksonville 50
13. Bellarmine 43
14. Queens (1) 28
2022 Preseason All-ASUN Team
Erin Shomaker, FGCU, Sr., OH*
Lily Felts, FGCU, Sr., OH
Chelsey Lockey, FGCU, Sr., S
Zoe Gonzales, Jacksonville State, Sr., MB
Lena Kindermann, Jacksonville State, Gr., OH
Emma Schurfranz, Kennesaw State, Sr., RS
Rocio Moro, North Florida, Sr., Libero
* Denotes unanimous selection to preseason team
Preseason Player of the Year: Erin Shomaker, FGCU
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Rocio Moro, North Florida
Preseason Setter of the Year: Chelsey Lockey, FGCU
Fan-Voted Preseason Player of the Year: Anna Katherine Griggs, North Alabama
Fan-Voted Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Meg Mersman, Lipscomb
Fan-Voted Preseason Setter of the Year: Claire Ochs, Jacksonville State