Volleyball | 8/7/2017 12:32:00 PM

NEW ORLEANS – The Georgia Southern volleyball team has been picked third in the East Division in the Sun Belt's Preseason Poll, conducted by the league's 12 head coaches. 

Defending conference champion Coastal Carolina was picked to win the East, garnering all 12 first-place votes, and South Alabama was picked second, eight points ahead of the Eagles. Arkansas State logged 11 first-place votes and was picked to win the West with Texas State coming in second with one first-place selection.

Georgia Southern tied for second in the East Division in 2016, and the Eagles return four of their seven starters and 14 letterwinners to the 2017 team.

2017 Sun Belt Volleyball Preseason Poll (first-place votes in parentheses)
East Division
1. Coastal Carolina (12) - 72 pts
2. South Alabama - 51 pts
3. Georgia Southern - 43 pts
4. Georgia State - 37 pts
5. Appalachian State - 30 pts
6. Troy - 19 pts
 
West Division
1. Arkansas State (11) - 71 pts
2. Texas State (1) - 57 pts
3. UTA - 50 pts
4. Little Rock - 34 pts
5. Louisiana - 28 pts
6. ULM - 12 pts

Sun Belt Preseason Volleyball All-Conference Team
Emma Longley (Appalachian State, So., OH)
** Kenzie Fields (Arkansas State, So., OH)
* Carlisa May (Arkansas State, Jr., OH)
Jessica Uke (Arkansas State, Sr., MB)
* Leah Hardeman (Coastal Carolina, Sr., OH)
Stacey Reilly (Louisiana, Sr., OH)
Jessica Bartczyszyn (Louisiana, Sr., S)
Kacey Leblanc (ULM, Sr., LIB/DS)
** Qiana Cañete (UTA, Sr., OH)
Zhanelle Geathers (UTA, Jr., MB)
** Erin Hoppe (Texas State, Sr., S)
Jaliyah Bolden (Texas State, Sr., MB)
 * -  denotes 2016 First-Team All-Conference | ** denotes 2016 Second-Team All-Conference
 
2017 Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Leah Hardeman (Coastal Carolina, Sr., OH)
 
2017 Sun Belt Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Kacey Leblanc (ULM, Sr., LIB/DS)
 
2017 Sun Belt Preseason Setter of the Year
Erin Hoppe (Texas State, Sr., S)

Georgia Southern Athletics provides current information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com. Information on Eagle athletics can also be found through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics and Instagram.com/GSAthletics. To purchase tickets to Georgia Southern athletics events, visit GSEagles.com/tickets.

In order to expedite entry and provide a safe environment for all patrons and participants, Georgia Southern Athletics has implemented a Clear Bag Policy for all ticketed sporting events, effective Aug. 1, 2017. Fans can find the complete policy as well as an FAQ section at GSEagles.com/ClearBag.