Photo above: Senior Setter Laura Subject was PSAC West Athlete of the Year in 2013

The Golden Eagles, who finished 32-5 overall last year and 20-2 in the PSAC West while tying the school record for wins and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament, the fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance for Clarion, earned one first-place vote. It marks the sixth straight year the Golden Eagles have appeared in the top three on a PSAC Preseason poll. Clarion won PSAC West titles in 2010 and 2013, a PSAC title in 2010 along with an NCAA Division II Atlantic Region title and a trip to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in 2010. ,

2013 PSAC West Athlete of the Year Laura Subject, a senior setter, returns to lead the Golden Eagles in 2014. Subject led the league with 11.11 assists per set last year. Also returning from starting roles in 2013 will be senior outside hitter Carlie Bieranowski (3.07 kills per set) and junior Libero Morgan Seybold (6.20 digs per set). An additional key returnee includes sophomore middle hitter Kelly Shannon (1.31 kills per set, .075 blocks per set).

Defending PSAC Champion Pitt-Johnstown (PSAC East) and California (PSAC West) have been tabbed to finish the 2014 season atop their respective division, according to the coaches.
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Pitt-Johnstown earned five first-place votes in the Eastern Division. The Lady Cats clinched UPJ’s first ever PSAC Championship title last fall with a 3-2 win over California. 2013 PSAC East Freshman of the Year and PSAC Championship Most Valuable Player Marissa Erminio led the Lady Cats in 2013 with 3.67 kills per set. With the conference championship, Pitt-Johnstown earned an automatic berth into the program’s first ever NCAA Championship tournament. Pitt-Johnstown was ranked to finish the 2013 season sixth in the East, but earned the second seed in the league championship tournament with a 15-7 PSAC record.

For the third-straight season California has been granted the top slot on the preseason poll, as the Vulcans earned three first-places nods in the Western Division. The Vulcans have never been ranked lower than second on the PSAC preseason poll. Last season California played Wheeling Jesuit for the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional title for the third straight year. The Vulcans have appeared in the NCAA Tournament for eight straight seasons, while playing the PSAC Championship tournament for nine straight years and capturing five league titles during that span. The Vulcans return their top attacker from 2013 in outside hitter Laurel Miller, who finished the season with 3.69 kills per set with a .216 hitting percentage and 60 service aces.

Shippensburg took second in the East with a pair of first-place votes. The Raiders won their first ever NCAA D-II postseason match last season in order to advance to the regional semifinals for the first time in program history. Shippensburg finished the season with 29 wins, marking the second most in school history. The Raiders have not ranked lower than second on the PSAC preseason poll since being slated third in 2010.

West Chester claimed a first-place nod and sits third on the Eastern Division poll. The Golden Rams have been slated third on the preseason poll for four straight seasons. West Chester has appeared in the PSAC Championship tournament eight of the last nine years.

Gannon acquired four first-place votes and finished second in the West voting. The Lady Knights earned the fourth seed in the 2013 PSAC Championship and upset No. 1 seed Clarion in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals for the second straight year. Gannon, the 2012 PSAC Champion, returns 2013 PSAC West Freshman of the Year Hannah Kren, who finished her rookie season with 3.50 kills per set.

Listed below are the preseason PSAC volleyball coaches’ preseason polls. First-place votes are in parenthesis.

Eastern Division
1. Pitt-Johnstown (5)
2. Shippensburg (2)
3. West Chester (1)
4. Lock Haven
5. Millersville
6. Kutztown
7. East Stroudsburg
8. Cheyney

Western Division
1. California (3)
2. Gannon (4)
3. Clarion (1)
4. Seton Hill
5. Mercyhurst
6. Edinboro
7. IUP
8. Slippery Rock

Note — Some of the information in this story is courtesy of the PSAC’s preseason release.