RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – The Ouachita Baptist University volleyball team is a contender for the 2023 Great American Conference championship, according to at least one head coach in the league.
The Tigers received one of the 12 first-place votes and came in fourth in the preseason coaches' poll to start the 2023 season, which opens up September 1 in Kingsville, Texas.
Nearly 70 percent of the roster returns from last year's squad, which advanced to the semifinals of the GAC tournament and finished 19-12 overall and 10-6 in GAC matches for a fourth-place finish.
In all, a total of four starters are back and 13 letter winners return, including reigning GAC Freshman of the Year and All-GAC Second Team selection
Riley Braziel, All-GAC Second Team setter
Courtney Hanson, and All-GAC Honorable Mention middle
Emily Adams.
Haley Fairchild is also back in the middle after starting 29 matches last season as a freshman.
2023 GAC VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Harding (118 points, 9 first-place votes)
2. Oklahoma Baptist (107, 2)
3. Southwestern Oklahoma State (103)
4. Ouachita (87, 1)
5. Southern Nazarene (82)
6. Arkansas Tech (58)
T7. East Central (57)
T7. Northwestern Oklahoma State (57)
9. Henderson State (51)
10. Southern Arkansas (35)
11. Southeastern Oklahoma State (19)
12. Arkansas-Monticello (18)
