ST. LOUIS – The Westminster women's volleyball team has been voted to finish third in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference by the conference's coaches. The Blue Jays finished third in the poll behind Greenville and Webster who tied for first. Westminster received a pair of first place votes.
The Blue Jays return three All-SLIAC players highlighted by 2018 first team selection Natalie Needy (Fenton, Mo. / Rockwood Summit). Needy finished the 2018 campaign with a team-high in kills and blocks. Her 286 kills were the fourth most in the conference and she had the fourth-most blocks-per-set in the conference with .077.
The Blue Jays will also have senior Ashley Kistaitis (Lincoln, Neb. / Lincoln North Star) back after the 2017 first team All-SLIAC player was sidelined with an injury last season. In 2017 Kistaitis recorded 340 kills and 283 digs as a sophomore.
Junior Sarah Rivers (St. Louis, Mo. / Lutheran High School South) returns after an impressive sophomore season in which she had the third-best hitting percentage in the conference at .258. Rivers, also finished second on the team in blocks with 58 and earned a spot on the second team All-SLIAC team.
Senior Teresa Becker (St. Charles, Mo. / Home Schooled) is another key returner for the Blue Jays. Becker was named third team All-SLIAC last season after showing her versatility by putting up strong all-around statistics highlighted by 172 kills, 157 assists, 245 digs, and 20 total blocks.
The Blue Jays open their season with a home exhibition match at Westminster Historic Gymnasium against NAIA Columbia College (Mo.) at 7:00 PM on August 27. Westminster will officially begin NCAA play at the Washington University Tournament in St. Louis on Aug. 30-31, where they will face North Park, Cornell College, and Hendrix.
The full release from the SLIAC can be found here.
Full poll:
Greenville (4) 76
Webster (4) 76
Westminster (2) 66
Principia 50
Fontbonne 50
MacMurray 40
Iowa Wesleyan 28
Blackburn 22
Spalding 20
Eureka 19