VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State volleyball team was picked third in the 2024 Gulf South Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced by the league office Thursday.
 
Defending Gulf South Conference tournament champions West Florida lead the poll with 99 points and 9 first-place votes while Alabama Huntsville is second with 90 points and one first place vote.
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Leading the conference in returning seniors with seven, Valdosta State comes in at third with 69 total points, while Mississippi College ranks fourth with 68 points and one first place vote. Montevallo rounds out the top five with 66 points.
 
GSC-newcomer Trevecca Nazarene was picked sixth in the poll with 57 total points followed by Auburn Montgomery (51), Lee (43), Union (30) and West Alabama capping off the top ten with 21 points. Christian Brothers round out the poll at 11th with 11 points.
 
In addition to the poll, senior Christina Pettigrew was named to the 2024 Preseason All-GSC Team after earning All-Conference First Team honors in 2023.
 
In 2023, Pettigrew played in 123 sets and started all 33 matches played. She tallied 286 kills for a team-best 381 points with 26 aces. Defensively, the Copperas Cove, Texas native racked up a team-best 114 blocks including 24 solo rejections along with 76 digs.
 
Also of note, redshirt-freshman setter Avery Mullins was named to the GSC Newcomer Watchlist after transferring to VSU from West Virginia State.
 
Seventh-year head coach Kaleigh Zoucha and the Blazers begin their 2024 campaign on Sept. 6-7 as VSU is set to host the 2024 Fall Tournament at Valdosta State in The Complex. The tournament features four other teams including Winston-Salem, Rollins, Converse and Erskine, all of which the Blazers will play that weekend. The first game of the tournament kicks off on Friday, Sept. 6 at 9 a.m. as VSU takes on Converse. Tickets are on sale now by calling (229) 333-SEAT 7328) to purchase or at the VSU Athletic Ticket Office in the P.E. Complex. 
 
Click Here for the full GSC Preseason release or click here to see the full 2024 Blazer volleyball schedule.
 
GSC Volleyball Coaches Preseason Poll
1. West Florida (9) – 99 points
2. Alabama Huntsville (1) – 90 points
3. Valdosta State – 69 points
4. Mississippi College (1) – 68 points
5. Montevallo – 66 points
6. Trevecca Nazarene – 57 points
7. Auburn Montgomery – 51 points
8. Lee – 43 points
9. Union – 30 points
10. West Alabama – 21 points
11. Christian Brothers – 11 points
 
First-place votes in parenthesis ( )