INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The Great Midwest Athletic Conference has released their 2023 coaches poll, with the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers being selected to finish seventh in the south division.
Perennial midwest region power Hillsdale was selected first in the north division and last year's south division champion Ashland was picked to finish first in that division yet again.
In her first full season at the helm, head coach
Alejandra Jimenez will have a full arsenal of tools to choose from. Last year's leader in kills,
Hallie McGuire, returns for her final season with the Panthers. Four year player
Ava Rebarchik comes back to man the defense at the net, while the hard hitting
Nicole Hughes comes back to the team after last playing for Wesleyan in 2021.
Sophomores
Olivia Patton and
Claire Lange will see bigger roles this year, while senior
Mariah Jones will assist Rebarchik at the net after tallying 64 blocks last season. With the departure of
Karrah Cron,
Julia Kupper looks to step in as the team's main setter. She showed her passing prowess last night as she notched 29 assists in just three sets against Lindsey Wilson. Transfer
Embry Burgess,
Stella Kleffman, and
Maddie Hanshew stepped in and played great on the defensive side of the ball yesterday, so Jimenez will have plenty of options when it comes to a DS.
The Panthers open their season on Thursday, August 31st when they travel to Liberty, Missouri for the Kansas City Classic. Their first home game will be Friday, September 15th when they take on Ohio Dominican in their conference opener.
2023 GREAT MIDWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
NORTH DIVISION
1. Hillsdale - 89 points (10 first-place votes)
2. Findlay - 80 points (4 first-place votes)
3. Northwood - 70 points
4. Walsh - 56 points
5. Malone - 43 points
6. Lake Erie - 31 points
7. Ursuline - 22 points
SOUTH DIVISION
1. Ashland - 81 points (8 first-place votes)
2. Cedarville - 80 points (3 first-place votes)
3. Trevecca Nazarene - 69 points (3 first-place votes)
4. Ohio Dominican - 53 points
5. Tiffin - 50 points
6. Thomas More - 31 points
7. Kentucky Wesleyan - 27 points
Stay up to date on all your Panther news by following @KWCpanthers on Twitter and Instagram and by liking the "Kentucky Wesleyan College Athletics" Facebook page.
