Pitt Tops 2019 ACC Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll

GREENSBORO, N.C. – For the second consecutive year, the University of Pittsburgh has topped the ACC Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll, as announced by the conference Friday.

Pitt was named the preseason favorite with 195 points and 13 first-place votes. Florida State was picked second with 174 points and the remaining first-place vote. Head coaches may not vote for their own teams in the poll.

The Panthers led all teams with four student-athletes named to the 18-member 2019 Preseason All-ACC Volleyball Team. Pitt's 2018 AVCA All-Americans, including Nika Markovic (third team), Kayla Lund (honorable mention), Layne Van Buskirk (honorable mention) and Stephanie Williams (honorable mention), earned the accolades.

Williams made her team-high third consecutive appearance on the team (2017, 2018), followed by Markovic with her second consecutive appearance (2018). The honors are the first for Lund and Van Buskirk.

In the hunt for their third consecutive ACC title under head coach Dan Fisher, the Panthers enter the 2019 season returning five of seven starters, losing only the libero and setter positions. Pitt welcomes seven newcomers, including 2017 Big 12 Libero of the Year Hali Hillegas, a transfer from Iowa State. The Panthers finished the 2018 season in the NCAA Tournament Second Round with a 30-2 overall record and 17-1 record in ACC play.

Below is the full announcement by the ACC:

2019 PRESEASON ALL-ACC VOLLEYBALL TEAM
Brooke Bailey, OH, Jr., Clemson
Kaylin Korte, OH, Jr., Clemson
Payton Schwantz, OH, Jr., Duke
Payton Caffrey, OH, Sr., Florida State
Taryn Knuth, MB, Jr., Florida State
Mikaila Dowd, OH, So., Georgia Tech
Melanie McHenry, OH, Sr., Louisville
Elizaveta Lukianova, OH, R-Jr., Miami
Melissa Evans, OPP, Jr., NC State
Sydney Bent, RS, So., Notre Dame
Charley Niego, OH, So., Notre Dame
Zoe Nunez, S, So., Notre Dame
Kayla Lund, OH, Jr., Pitt
Nika Markovic, RS, Sr., Pitt
Layne Van Buskirk, MB, Sr., Pitt
Stephanie Williams, OH, R-Sr., Pitt
Polina Shemanova, OH, So., Syracuse
Sarah Billiard, OH/RS, Jr., Virginia

2019 ACC VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL

Pitt 195 points (13 First-Place Votes)
Florida State 174 points (1 First-Place Vote)
Louisville 167 points
Notre Dame 164 points
North Carolina 120 points
Syracuse 118 points
Duke 113 points
Clemson 105 points
NC State 101 points
Miami 90 points
Georgia Tech 86 points
Boston College 52 points
Virginia Tech 39 points
Virginia 33 points
Wake Forest 18 points

Since Fisher's inaugural season at the Panthers' helm in 2013 (the same year the program joined the ACC) Pitt has only risen in the preseason poll. Below is a history of Pitt's placement:

PITT'S HISTORY IN THE ACC PRESEASON COACHES POLL
2019: First
2018: First
2017: Third
2016: Fifth
2015: Seventh
2014: Ninth
2013: 13th

Pitt will the 2019 home season with the Panther Challenge against Cleveland State, Cincinnati and South Carolina Aug. 30-31 at Fitzgerald Field House.

FLEX SEASON TICKETS
Flex season tickets are on sale for $45 (a $100 value), and groups of 15 or more will receive admission for $3 per ticket. Flex tickets can be used traditionally (one ticket for each match) or in any combination (two tickets for six matches, four tickets for three matches, etc.). During home tournaments, one ticket will allow entry for all matches on that day.

Benefits for flex season ticket holders include: