Defending PAC Champion Bison picked second in league poll

Andrew Woodley, Sports Information Director

GREENVILLE, Pa. (Aug. 23) – Following the program's first-ever Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance, the Bethany College Volleyball team received two first place votes and was picked to finish second in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) annual preseason coaches' poll announced Wednesday afternoon.

Thomas More College was selected as the preseason favorite in the conference preseason coaches' poll, as voted on by the league's 10 head coaches, and received the other eight first-place votes. After Bethany, Geneva, Westminster and Washington & Jefferson rounded out the preseason top-five.

Two-Time PAC Coach of the Year Courtney Kline, entering her 11^th season at Bethany, will have a different look this season following the graduation of four all-conference players, including 2016 PAC Player of the Year Dylana McKenzie and her twin sister Dakota McKenzie; a fellow first-team selection. The McKenzie twins concluded their careers ranking first and second all-time in school history in kills.

Despite their losses, the defending-league champion Bison return a solid core which includes a pair of all-conference selections in senior Sumayyah Muhammad (Warren, Ohio/Warren G. Harding) and sophomore Maggie Merren (Oregon, Ohio/Clay). Muhammad garnered Honorable Mention All-PAC at middle blocker after leading the team and ranking seventh in the league with 0.76 blocks per set (93 total). Meanwhile, Merren was tabbed a Second-Team All-PAC libero after ranking seventh in the league with 4.35 digs per set (513 total).

In addition to Muhammad and Merren, junior Reilly Parker (North Huntington, Pa./Norwin) and sophomore Katie Sparks (Macedonia, Ohio/Trinity) were both regular starters who will be counted on for production. Parker, the 2015 PAC Freshman of the Year, appeared in all 37 matches and ranked second on the team with 370 digs last season. Meanwhile, Sparks finished her debut campaign with 121 kills (fifth on the team), 24 service aces and 202 digs (1.96 per set).

Bethany has recorded eight-straight winning seasons, including six-straight with 25 wins or more, and will open the 2017 campaign on Friday and Saturday, September 1-2 when they head to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to compete at the Battlefield Classic. The Bison will play Arcadia and Gettysburg on the first day and conclude play with St. Mary's (Md.) and Mihlenberg on the final day.