Fulton, MO 8/25/2023- The Westminster College volleyball team finished in third place according to the 2023 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) preseason coaches' poll that was released on Friday.
The Blue Jays received 60 points and one first-place vote, putting them in a tie for third with Webster University. Head Coach Dalton Tucker had to retool in the offseason after graduating four impact seniors from last year's team that made it to the conference championship game. He is bringing seven newcomers, which he calls "the best recruiting class" that he has ever had. They will be joining twelve returning players, including All-Conference senior Malena Bixby and All-Conference sophomore Meghan Nolte, who were named to the 2023 SLIAC Volleyball Preseason Watch List. Bixby led the SLIAC with 366 kills last season while Nolte totaled 190 kills and 69 blocks in 2022.
The Blue Jays will start their season on Friday, September 1st when they travel to Chicago, Illinois to compete in the 2023 Windy City Classic and will play St. Norbert at 4:30 P.M.
2023 SLIAC Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. Greenville - 76 (5)
2. Fontbonne - 74 (4)
3. Webster - 60
3. Westminster - 60 (1)
5. Lyon - 39
6. Spalding - 38
7. Blackburn - 32
7. Eureka - 32
9. MUW - 30
10. Principia - 9
