DAYTON/INDIANAPOLIS — The Wright State volleyball program has been picked atop the 2023 Horizon League preseason coaches poll, the conference office announced Thursday. The Raiders garnered 99 total points and nine of the 10 first place votes in the poll, which the league's 10 head coaches voted on.
Northern Kentucky, who the Raiders defeated in last fall's HL Championship, earned the lone other first place vote and had 85 points in second place, followed by Green Bay (76 points) and Milwaukee (73 points) to round out the top of the poll.
The bottom half of the poll was Cleveland State (66), Oakland (47), Purdue Fort Wayne (35), Youngstown State (33), IUPUI and RMU (18 points each).
Former Wright State standouts
Jenna Story and
Lainey Stephenson captured the HL Defensive Player of the Year and Setter of the Year honors, respectively, last fall while returning Raiders
Taylor Bransfield and
Callie Martin joining Stephenson and Story as first team performers. Green was tabbed Horizon League Coach of the Year and
Aaliyah Byers was named to the All-Freshman Team.
Wright State opens its 2023 season this weekend with three matches in Louisville, KY as part of the Cardinal Classic. The Raiders will take on Washington State on Friday before a Saturday meeting with Troy and will end the weekend on Sunday against host Louisville. Sunday's game will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
2023 Under Armour #HLVB Preseason Poll
Pl. Team – Pts. (First-place votes)
1. Wright State (9) – 99
2. Northern Kentucky (1) – 85
3. Green Bay – 76
4. Milwaukee – 73
5. Cleveland State – 66
6. Oakland – 47
7. Purdue Fort Wayne – 35
8. Youngstown State – 33
t9. IUPUI – 18
t9. RMU – 18
