Spartans Picked Second in SSC Preseason Poll

MELBOURNE, Fla. -  Sunshine State Conference volleyball coaches' have picked Palm Beach Atlantic University as the preseason favorite in 2017. The Sailfish received 100 total votes and 10 first place votes in the poll.
 
University of Tampa earned second with 87 total votes and the final first place vote from league coaches. Florida Southern College edged Saint Leo University for third place in the poll, 79 votes to 77. Barry University rounds out the preseason top five with 56 total votes. 

Last season, Saint Leo halted Tampa's 11-year run as conference champions by defeating the Spartans in the regular season series. In the postseason, Florida Southern upended the Lions and Tampa in the first and second rounds of the NCAA regional. In the tournament championship, Palm Beach Atlantic defeated FSC to earn a second consecutive trip to the NCAA national quarterfinals. PBA went on to defeat USC-Aiken before losing to Alaska-Anchorage in the semifinals.
 
Palm Beach Atlantic and Tampa represent the SSC in the preseason American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II poll. The ranking has Florida Southern and Saint Leo receiving votes.

The SSC schedules open up with Palm Beach Atlantic against Clarion on August 31st. Conference matches begin on September 12th with Barry hosting Lynn University.

The Spartans not only return five of their six leading point scorers from last season but also their two assist leaders. In addition, Tampa brings in a strong Freshmen class that is hungry to compete for playing time. The Spartans go into the 2017 season with their sights set on retaking the SSC title. 

Tampa opens its season as a co-host in the Terrace Hotel Classic where their first 2017 opponent will be against the New Haven Chargers on Friday, September 1 at 2:45 PM.

 
2017 SSC VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
-

*First Place Votes