NASHVILLE, Tenn. --- Chattanooga Mocs beach volleyball sophomore
Neva Clark has been tabbed the Ohio Valley Conference's preseason No. 1 ranked player while the team was predicted to finish second, the league office announced Friday morning.
Adding to the pair of preseason accolades voted on by fellow league head coaches and sports information directors, sophomore
Joy Courtright was slotted No. 9 in the preseason poll which ranked the league's top 10 players enter the 2023 season.
Clark finished her 2022 freshman season with a highly impressive 20-10 overall record which included a 5-1 record in the No. 1 pairing and a 15-9 tally at No. 9 while going 6-2 in OVC play (all at No. 2). Courtright's rookie campaign featured a 17-9 overall record, going 15-5 (5-2 OVC) at the No. 5 tandem and 2-4 in the No. 4 slot.
"Neva and Joy are both hard working players on the court who push themselves and lead by example," said head coach
Darin Van Horn. "It's great to see them recognized for that."
Chattanooga, who finished the 2022 campaign 17-14 overall and 5-3 in OVC play, was slotted No. 2 in the preseason poll while receiving a pair of first-place votes. The Mocs (40 – two first-place votes) trailed preseason favorite UT Martin (50 – 10 first-place votes) and led Morehead State (36), Eastern Illinois (21), Tennessee Tech (19) and Lindenwood (14).
"We are proud we have been able to establish a program that has consistently been in the top three and being picked to finish second this year," added Van Horn. "It keeps us hungry for chasing the top spot."
Full OVC preseason rankings are below.
2023 OVC Beach Volleyball Predicted Order of Finish
1. UT Martin (10 first-place votes) – 50
2. Chattanooga (2 first-place votes) – 40
3. Morehead State – 36
4. Eastern Illinois – 21
5. Tennessee Tech – 19
6. Lindenwood – 14
2023 OVC Beach Volleyball Preseason Top 10 Player List
1. Neva Clark, Chattanooga
2. Trinity Miller, Morehead State
3. Dylan Mott, UT Martin
T4. Anya Reinhard, Morehead State
Logan Wallick, UT Martin
Haeleigh Paulino, UT Martin
T7. Abby Hulsman, Morehead State
Kayla Carrell, UT Martin
9. Joy Courtwright, Chattanooga
10. Skylar Boom, Tennessee Tech
SEASON-OPENING WEEKEND
Chattanooga gets set to open the 2023 campaign this weekend in Hattiesburg, Miss., at the Hub City Beach Bash hosted by Southern Miss. The Mocs open play against the tournament hosts on Saturday at 11 a.m. ET.
"Southern Miss will be a great test for us this weekend as we face opponents that are similar to what our conference will look like," said Van Horn. "We will get to see our strengths, weaknesses, and how we can continue to progress this season."
Hub City Beach Bash – February 25-26
Hattiesburg, Mississippi – Southern Miss.
Saturday, Feb. 25
Chattanooga vs. So. Miss – 11AM ET
SE Louisiana vs. Spring Hill – 1PM ET
Chattanooga vs. SE Louisiana – 3PM ET
So. Miss vs. Spring Hill – 5PM ET
So. Miss vs. SE Louisiana – 7PM ET
Sunday, Feb. 26
Chattanooga vs. Spring Hill – 10 AM ET
Third Place vs. Fourth Place – 12PM ET
First Place vs. Second Place – 2PM ET
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