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There are no expectations of a drop off for the defending ConfCarolinas champions.
Belmont Abbey received all but two first-place votes to finish atop the ConfCarolinas Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Crusaders finished last season winning 15 consecutive conference matches en route to reaching the NCAA Tournament for the second time in four years. Among the starters returning for Belmont Abbey include two Division II All-Americans– middle attacker Jibriel Elhaddad and outside attacker Matthew Staskunas – and setter Joseph Morris, the 2024 ConfCarolinas Freshman of the Year.
Along with its returning starters, Belmont Abbey in the offseason added outside attacker Caden Day who transferred from Penn State.
Belmont Abbey edged out second-place North Greenville by five points in the preseason poll. North Greenville lost to Belmont Abbey in the ConfCarolinas Tournament finals last season and was the only school to receive a first-place vote in the conference poll.
Mount Olive and Barton round out the top half of the poll.
The ConfCarolinas season begins in February and concludes with the conference tournament in April. The winner of the ConfCarolinas Tournament will receive the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
2025 ConfCarolinas Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Belmont Abbey – 48 (6) points
2. North Greenville – (43) 2 points
3. Mount Olive – 36 points
4. Barton – 30 points
5. Erskine – 25 points
6. King – 18 points
7. Emmanuel – 16 points
8. Lees-McRae – 8 points