Pioneers picked 2nd of 14 teams in RSC Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Poll

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio -- Point Park University volleyball was picked second of 14 teams in the 2023 River States Conference Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Poll. The Pioneers received 142 total votes and three first-place votes to win the conference. That trailed only IU Kokomo, which led the poll with 152 total votes and 11 first-place nods. 

Point Park is coming off a 25-7 record and an undefeated conference campaign of 17-0 RSC in 2022. That earned the Pioneers the RSC regular-season title and a trip back to the NAIA national tournament. IU Kokomo, Point Park and IU East are viewed as the top teams going into the 2023 season with each of those getting first-place vote consideration along the way. 

Point Park enters its sixth season under head coach Bridget Bielich. The Pioneers are 91-43 in her previous five seasons at the helm for a .679 winning percentage.

The Pioneers have to replace several top hitters, its top setter and libero from last year. But Point Park has plenty of capable returners with experienced setters Ashlynn Gulakowski (All-RSC honorable mention) and Elise Wallace and top returning hitters Giulia Follador and Amanda Contois. That's along with Kenzie Zauner in the back row, who spent plenty of time on defense last year.

The Pioneers add to that several impact transfers, especially up front. Point Park added seven new players with five of them being hitters. Two of those come from the NCAA Division I level with Eden McElhaney (Marshall) and Ana Baruh Krstic (Hampton).

There are 14 teams in RSC volleyball this year. Seven teams each make up the RSC East & West Divisions. Shawnee State is in the RSC East while other newcomer Indiana University Purdue University Columbus is in the RSC West. IU East has moved to the RSC East to even out the divisions with the departure of Carlow (Pa.) University. See below for the full poll. 

2023 RIVER STATES CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL COACHES' PRESEASON POLL (AUG. 11)
(First-Place Votes in Parenthesis)