ATLANTA, Ga. – After a breakout first season in the Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS), Asbury will enter 2025 as the preseason favorite in women's volleyball. The Eagles collected 62 points and seven first-place votes in a poll of the league's nine head coaches, edging out perennial contender Covenant for the top spot.
Asbury stormed onto the CCS scene in 2024, finishing 21-8 overall and 15-1 in conference play to capture the regular season title and host the CCS Volleyball Tournament. Their postseason ended with a semifinal loss to Huntingdon, but the Eagles returned a formidable core, including Isabelle VandeSchraaf (2024 CCS Rookie of the Year), Lucy Kate Gray (Setter of the Year), and Riley McChord (Defensive Player of the Year). They are once again led by reigning CCS Coach of the Year Tiffany Horton.
Covenant was picked second with 55 points after securing their third consecutive tournament championship in 2024. The Scots posted a 22-13 record and a 12-4 mark in league play before going on a postseason run that included wins over Piedmont, Maryville, and Huntingdon. That title earned them another trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament, where they fell to Emory in the opening round. Returning all-conference performers Sarah Jennings (defensive specialist) and Cali Sandhoff (setter) will look to keep Covenant in contention for a fourth straight crown.
Maryville checked in at third with 49 points following a 21-12 season that included a 13-3 record in conference play. The Scots entered last year's tournament as the No. 2 seed before bowing out to Covenant in the semifinals. They return senior outside hitter
Cailin Mastropasqua and sophomore defensive specialist
Katelyn Eldred to anchor a competitive squad.
Huntingdon earned 45 points and one first-place vote to take the fourth spot. The Hawks closed the 2024 season with a strong postseason showing, upsetting No. 1 seed Asbury on the road before falling to Covenant in the championship match as the No. 5 seed. Huntingdon finished 16-20 overall and 9-7 in league play but will feature a largely new-look roster this fall. Rising sophomore Morgan Suggs is expected to lead the Hawks' offensive attack.
Belhaven landed fifth with 39 points after a 12-17 (10-6 CCS) season in 2024. The Blazers will lean on the experience of all-conference returners Megan LaCour (outside hitter) and Rylee White (middle blocker) as they aim to climb the standings.
Piedmont, slotted sixth with 26 points, will look to build under new leadership after finishing 6-19 overall a year ago. All six of their victories came in CCS play, and the Lions reached the conference tournament before falling to Covenant in the quarterfinals. Outside hitter Katie Hubbard, the team's lone all-conference honoree, returns to lead the attack.
LaGrange (25 points), Agnes Scott (12), and Wesleyan (11) rounded out the preseason rankings.
The 2025 CCS volleyball season officially begins Friday, August 29, with conference play heating up in September. Postseason action will get underway Tuesday, November 11, and conclude with the CCS Volleyball Championship match on Saturday, November 15, hosted by the highest remaining seed.
2025 CCS WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL
| Ranking |
School |
Points |
| 1 |
Asbury University |
62 points (7) |
| 2 |
Covenant College |
55 points |
| 3 |
Maryville College |
49 points |
| 4 |
Huntingdon College |
45 points (1) |
| 5 |
Belhaven University |
39 points |
| 6 |
Piedmont University |
26 points |
| 7 |
LaGrange College |
25 points |
| 8 |
Agnes Scott College |
12 points |
| 9 |
Wesleyan College |
11 points |
First-place votes in parenthesis.
