Women's Volleyball 8.16.23

Butler and Morgan Named to Preseason All-SoCon Team, Volleyball Tabbed Second in Coaches Poll

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Juniors Gracie Lynn Butler and Kate Morgan were both named to the Preseason All-SoCon squad while the Samford Volleyball team was picked to finish second in the 2023 Southern Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll announced on Wednesday.

Butler enjoyed a stellar sophomore season in 2022, where she earned All-SoCon Second Team and 2022 SoCon All-Tournament Team honors. The Hazel Green, Ala. native finished second on the team and sixth in the conference with 342 kills. She averaged 2.92 kills per set, a mark that ranked seventh in the league.

Morgan was named the SoCon Libero of the Year in 2022, in addition to garnering All-SoCon second-team honors. The Waxahachie, Texas native fortified the Bulldog back row by leading the team and ranking second in the conference with 520 digs and an average of 4.44 digs per set. She additionally finished second in the SoCon in aces, totaling 49 over 117 sets played in 2022.

The Bulldogs accumulated 57 points in the preseason poll and were edged out by ETSU, who earned 58 points, for the top spot. Wofford was picked to finish third, while Western Carolina and Chattanooga rounded out the top five. A full coaches poll can be found below.

Samford posted a record of 19-13 in 2022 en route to capturing its third Southern Conference tournament title in four years and fifth in seven years under Head Coach Keylor Chan. The Bulldogs led the SoCon in hitting percentage (.227), assists per set (12.27), and kills per set (13.69), while their 1.93 service aces per set ranked seventh in Division I in addition to leading the conference.

2023 Southern Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll

1. ETSU (5)	58
2. Samford (2)	57
3. Wofford (2)	52
4. Western Carolina	40
5. Chattanooga	35
6. The Citadel	27
7. Mercer	24
8. Furman	19
9. UNCG	12

() denotes first-place votes

2023 Southern Conference Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team
Ali Ruffin, The Citadel, Jr., OH
Brianna Cantrell, ETSU, So., OH
Lundyn Coffman, ETSU, Gr., MB
Gracie Lynn Butler, Samford, Jr., OH
Kate Morgan, Samford, Jr., LIB/DS
Bailey Hartsough, Western Carolina, Jr., OH
Eden Punch, Western Carolina, Sr., MB
Sarah Barham, Wofford, Sr., MB

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Players Mentioned

#15 Gracie Lynn Butler: OH; 6' 1"; Junior

#7 Kate Morgan: DS/L; 5' 10"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#15 Gracie Lynn Butler
: 6' 1"; Junior
: OH

#7 Kate Morgan
: 5' 10"; Junior
: DS/L

Samford University Athletics

Players Mentioned

#15 Gracie Lynn Butler

#7 Kate Morgan

Players Mentioned

#15 Gracie Lynn Butler

#7 Kate Morgan