RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – SWOSU Volleyball was picked to finish third in the annual Great American Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. The results of the poll, voted on by the league's head coaches, were announced Thursday afternoon by the GAC office.

Harding, last year's regular season and conference tournament champion, was the resounding favorite with nine first-place votes. Oklahoma Baptist was next, earning two top nods, followed by the Bulldogs nearby in third.

The latest 2023 preseason pick matches SWOSU's 2022 finish. The Dawgs ended in third place last season with a 12-4 conference record and advanced to the semifinals of the GAC tournament before being eliminated.

SWOSU will return three of the four all-conference selections from last season: Lacy Mott, Zoey Sparks, and Samantha Kuzma. The fourth all-conference selection a year ago – Carmen Kinsey – remains with the team as a member of the coaching staff.  

The season is set to begin August 31 where the Bulldogs will play a pair of out-of-state tournaments before finally hosting a home match on September 21. Head Coach Josh Collins enters year 12 leading the program.  

2023 Great American Conference Preseason Coaches Poll