2017 SEC Vs. ACC Challenge At The Puerto Rico ClassicAug 30, 2017 by Megan Kaplon
Everything You Need To Know About The 2017 SEC/ACC Challenge
Everything You Need To Know About The 2017 SEC/ACC Challenge
Here's everything you need to know about the SEC/ACC Challenge preseason NCAA women's volleyball tournament, which will stream LIVE, right here on FloVolleyball, September 2-3, 2017.
In only the second weekend of the 2017 NCAA Division I women's volleyball season, some of the country's top teams are heading to San Juan, Puerto Rico, to compete in the Puerto Rico Classic.
With two teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference -- North Carolina and NC State -- and two from the Southeastern Conference -- Florida and Auburn -- this year's installment of the Classic has been dubbed the SEC/ACC Challenge.
Here's everything you need to know about the preseason tourney, which will stream LIVE right here on FloVolleyball on September 2-3.
Ranked No. 6 in FloVolleyball's preseason top-20 rankings, Florida returns all but one of its starters from 2016, including senior All-Americans middle Rhamat Alhassan and outside hitter Carli Snyder.
The Gators kickoff the season by hosting Texas, Nebraska, and Oregon for the Vert Challenge, so they'll be more than ready to take on the tough competition at the SEC/ACC Challenge in Puerto Rico.
One thing to keep an eye on is who takes over graduated All-American opposite Alex Holston's starting spot. Our money's on Shaniah Joseph, who played outside for Florida in 2016, but is an opposite for the Canadian national team. Freshman Paige Hammons will then be the top candidate to start opposite Carli Snyder on the left side.
Florida Athletics
Rhamat Alhassan | Senior | Middle Blocker
2017 Preseason All-SEC
2016 Third Team AVCA All-America
2015 First Team AVCA All-American
2014 Second Team AVCA All-America
2014-2016 AVCA All-Southeast Region
2014-2016 All-SEC
No. 5 career hitting percentage in NCAA DI history (.430)
Caroline Knop | Senior | Libero
2016 Honorable Mention AVCA All-America
2016 AVCA All-Southeast Region
2016 All-SEC
2014 Big Ten All-Freshman Team (at Michigan)
Allie Monserez | Junior | Setter
2016 Honorable Mention AVCA All-America
2016 AVCA All-Southeast Region
2016 All-SEC
2016 NCAA DI assists/set leader (12.36)
Carli Snyder | Senior | Outside Hitter
2017 Preseason All-SEC
2015 & 2016 Honorable Mention AVCA All-America
2015 & 2016 AVCA All-Southeast Region
2016 All-SEC
Depending on who you ask, North Carolina is either top five in the country, or top 20. Either way, it's clear that the Tar Heels are going to be one of the best East Coast teams this fall.
The coaches of the ACC unanimously picked UNC to win the conference, and three Tar Heels earned preseason All-ACC honors, including second team All-American outside hitter Taylor Leath, 2016 ACC freshman of the year Julia Scoles, and UNC top blocker middle Taylor Fricano.
North Carolina graduated one of the setters in its 6-2, its libero, and an opposite, but they bring in three top-notch in-state recruits and will benefit from the collegiate debut of redshirt freshman Holly Carlton, a 6-7 opposite.
USA Today Sports
Taylor Leath | Junior | Outside Hitter
2017 Preseason All-ACC
2016 ACC Player of the Year
2016 Second Team AVCA All-America
Julie Scoles | Sophomore | Outside Hitter
2017 Preseason All-ACC
2016 Honorable Mention AVCA All-America
2016 ACC Freshman of the Year
In 2016, her first season with the NC State squad, head coach Linda Hampton-Keith led the Wolfpack to their first-ever top-10 win and their most in-conference victories in program history.
This fall, NC State adds seven freshmen and two transfers from Arizona State, where Hampton-Keith served as an associate head coach before making the jump to NC State. The freshman class includes Colorado sisters Jasmine and Melissa Evans, multi-sport athlete Simone Jeffries, springy outside hitter Nailah Gordon, AVCA Phenom setter Kaylee Frazier, Under Armour All-American outside Kristen Chatman, and three-time high school state champion Allison Marble.
Expect transfers Bree Bailey, a 6-4 grad student outside, and Kylie Pickrell, a junior setter, to make immediate contributions as well.
Of the returners, outside hitter Julia Brown will shoulder the heaviest load after earning first team All-ACC honors in 2016 and being named to the preseason All-ACC list along with transfer Bailey. Brown led the Wolfpack with 489 kills in 2016 and was second on the team with 327 digs.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/PackVball/status/885290520037269504" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Julia Brown | Senior | Outside Hitter
2017 Preseason All-ACC
2016 First Team All-ACC
2016 AVCA All-East Region
Bree Bailey | Senior | Outside Hitter
2017 Preseason All-ACC
2015 Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention (at Arizona State)
2013 Pac-12 All-Freshman Team (at Arizona State)
Things are looking good for Auburn in 2017. The Tigers earned their highest-ever preseason conference ranking under head coach Rick Nold, coming in at No. 5 in the SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Of the 2016 lineup, Auburn returns five starters, including seniors 2013-2014 National Gatorade Player of the Year setter Alexa Filley and All-SEC libero Jesse Earl, who earned a spot on the U.S. collegiate national team earlier this year. The incoming freshman class of four is led by Under Armour All-American middle blocker Anna Stevenson.
Auburn kicks off the 2017 season at the Georgia Tech tournament, where it will face the host team, Big Ten powerhouse Michigan State, Furman, and Alabama State, before turning its attention to Puerto Rico opponents UNC and NC State.
Auburn Athletics
Alexa Filley | Senior | Setter
2013-2014 National Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year
2016 All-SEC
2016 & 2015 AVCA All-South Region Honorable Mention
Jesse Earl | Senior | Libero
2017 U.S. Women's Collegiate National Team Europe Tour
2016 & 2015 AVCA All-South Region
2016 All-SEC
UNC leads the all-time series with Auburn 5-1, with the Tigers' only victory coming in September 1990. However, the two teams haven't played since 2011, when they met at a preseason tournament at Florida. No. 12-ranked Carolina will be the far-and-away favorite in this matchup, but all teams are figuring things out in the preseason, so it's as good a time as any for an upset.
The very first time Florida and NC State faced off, the Wolfpack won in five sets. That was in 1985, and ever since, Florida has dominated the series, defeating NC State a total of six times. It's been 10 years since the two programs have played, and much has changed since then, not least of which is matches are now played to 25 instead of 30 points, but NC State certainly faces an uphill battle with the veteran Gators.
Auburn and NC State have not lined up across the net from each other since 1991. The two teams have only played each other twice in the history of the matchup, with the series tied at 1-1. Both programs ranked fifth in their respective conferences' preseason polls, so the question will be which conference boasts the better mid-pack team.
North Carolina has only defeated Florida once in fall season competition, with the Gators holding a 11-1 all-time record in the series. That sole victory for the Tar Heels happened 32 years ago, but UNC defeated Florida in five sets in a spring exhibition match in March 2016. With both teams ranked in the top 15 to open the 2017 season and this match taking place at a neutral site, this could be the Tar Heels chance to make a big statement early in the season.
The Wolverine Invitational hosted by Utah Valley will feature Kansas, Long Beach State, and Montana on August 31- September 2. Watch live here.
The Boise State Invitational on August 31- September 2 features hosts Boise State, BYU, Mizzou, and Sacramento State. Watch live here.
Watch Episode One here.
Watch Episode One here.
With two teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference -- North Carolina and NC State -- and two from the Southeastern Conference -- Florida and Auburn -- this year's installment of the Classic has been dubbed the SEC/ACC Challenge.
Here's everything you need to know about the preseason tourney, which will stream LIVE right here on FloVolleyball on September 2-3.
THE TEAMS
Florida
Ranked No. 6 in FloVolleyball's preseason top-20 rankings, Florida returns all but one of its starters from 2016, including senior All-Americans middle Rhamat Alhassan and outside hitter Carli Snyder.
The Gators kickoff the season by hosting Texas, Nebraska, and Oregon for the Vert Challenge, so they'll be more than ready to take on the tough competition at the SEC/ACC Challenge in Puerto Rico.
One thing to keep an eye on is who takes over graduated All-American opposite Alex Holston's starting spot. Our money's on Shaniah Joseph, who played outside for Florida in 2016, but is an opposite for the Canadian national team. Freshman Paige Hammons will then be the top candidate to start opposite Carli Snyder on the left side.
Florida Athletics
Florida Star Players
Rhamat Alhassan | Senior | Middle Blocker
2017 Preseason All-SEC
2016 Third Team AVCA All-America
2015 First Team AVCA All-American
2014 Second Team AVCA All-America
2014-2016 AVCA All-Southeast Region
2014-2016 All-SEC
No. 5 career hitting percentage in NCAA DI history (.430)
Caroline Knop | Senior | Libero
2016 Honorable Mention AVCA All-America
2016 AVCA All-Southeast Region
2016 All-SEC
2014 Big Ten All-Freshman Team (at Michigan)
Allie Monserez | Junior | Setter
2016 Honorable Mention AVCA All-America
2016 AVCA All-Southeast Region
2016 All-SEC
2016 NCAA DI assists/set leader (12.36)
Carli Snyder | Senior | Outside Hitter
2017 Preseason All-SEC
2015 & 2016 Honorable Mention AVCA All-America
2015 & 2016 AVCA All-Southeast Region
2016 All-SEC
North Carolina
Depending on who you ask, North Carolina is either top five in the country, or top 20. Either way, it's clear that the Tar Heels are going to be one of the best East Coast teams this fall.
The coaches of the ACC unanimously picked UNC to win the conference, and three Tar Heels earned preseason All-ACC honors, including second team All-American outside hitter Taylor Leath, 2016 ACC freshman of the year Julia Scoles, and UNC top blocker middle Taylor Fricano.
North Carolina graduated one of the setters in its 6-2, its libero, and an opposite, but they bring in three top-notch in-state recruits and will benefit from the collegiate debut of redshirt freshman Holly Carlton, a 6-7 opposite.
USA Today Sports
UNC Star Players
Taylor Leath | Junior | Outside Hitter
2017 Preseason All-ACC
2016 ACC Player of the Year
2016 Second Team AVCA All-America
Julie Scoles | Sophomore | Outside Hitter
2017 Preseason All-ACC
2016 Honorable Mention AVCA All-America
2016 ACC Freshman of the Year
NC State
In 2016, her first season with the NC State squad, head coach Linda Hampton-Keith led the Wolfpack to their first-ever top-10 win and their most in-conference victories in program history.
This fall, NC State adds seven freshmen and two transfers from Arizona State, where Hampton-Keith served as an associate head coach before making the jump to NC State. The freshman class includes Colorado sisters Jasmine and Melissa Evans, multi-sport athlete Simone Jeffries, springy outside hitter Nailah Gordon, AVCA Phenom setter Kaylee Frazier, Under Armour All-American outside Kristen Chatman, and three-time high school state champion Allison Marble.
Expect transfers Bree Bailey, a 6-4 grad student outside, and Kylie Pickrell, a junior setter, to make immediate contributions as well.
Of the returners, outside hitter Julia Brown will shoulder the heaviest load after earning first team All-ACC honors in 2016 and being named to the preseason All-ACC list along with transfer Bailey. Brown led the Wolfpack with 489 kills in 2016 and was second on the team with 327 digs.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/PackVball/status/885290520037269504" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
NC State Star Players
Julia Brown | Senior | Outside Hitter
2017 Preseason All-ACC
2016 First Team All-ACC
2016 AVCA All-East Region
Bree Bailey | Senior | Outside Hitter
2017 Preseason All-ACC
2015 Pac-12 All-Conference Honorable Mention (at Arizona State)
2013 Pac-12 All-Freshman Team (at Arizona State)
Auburn
Things are looking good for Auburn in 2017. The Tigers earned their highest-ever preseason conference ranking under head coach Rick Nold, coming in at No. 5 in the SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Of the 2016 lineup, Auburn returns five starters, including seniors 2013-2014 National Gatorade Player of the Year setter Alexa Filley and All-SEC libero Jesse Earl, who earned a spot on the U.S. collegiate national team earlier this year. The incoming freshman class of four is led by Under Armour All-American middle blocker Anna Stevenson.
Auburn kicks off the 2017 season at the Georgia Tech tournament, where it will face the host team, Big Ten powerhouse Michigan State, Furman, and Alabama State, before turning its attention to Puerto Rico opponents UNC and NC State.
Auburn Athletics
Auburn Star Players
Alexa Filley | Senior | Setter
2013-2014 National Gatorade Volleyball Player of the Year
2016 All-SEC
2016 & 2015 AVCA All-South Region Honorable Mention
Jesse Earl | Senior | Libero
2017 U.S. Women's Collegiate National Team Europe Tour
2016 & 2015 AVCA All-South Region
2016 All-SEC
THE MATCHUPS
UNC vs. Auburn
Saturday, September 2 | 6 PM ETUNC leads the all-time series with Auburn 5-1, with the Tigers' only victory coming in September 1990. However, the two teams haven't played since 2011, when they met at a preseason tournament at Florida. No. 12-ranked Carolina will be the far-and-away favorite in this matchup, but all teams are figuring things out in the preseason, so it's as good a time as any for an upset.
Florida vs. NC State
Saturday, September 2 | 8:30 PM ETThe very first time Florida and NC State faced off, the Wolfpack won in five sets. That was in 1985, and ever since, Florida has dominated the series, defeating NC State a total of six times. It's been 10 years since the two programs have played, and much has changed since then, not least of which is matches are now played to 25 instead of 30 points, but NC State certainly faces an uphill battle with the veteran Gators.
NC State vs. Auburn
Sunday, September 3 | 6 PM ETAuburn and NC State have not lined up across the net from each other since 1991. The two teams have only played each other twice in the history of the matchup, with the series tied at 1-1. Both programs ranked fifth in their respective conferences' preseason polls, so the question will be which conference boasts the better mid-pack team.
Florida vs. UNC
Sunday, September 3 | 8:30 PM ETNorth Carolina has only defeated Florida once in fall season competition, with the Gators holding a 11-1 all-time record in the series. That sole victory for the Tar Heels happened 32 years ago, but UNC defeated Florida in five sets in a spring exhibition match in March 2016. With both teams ranked in the top 15 to open the 2017 season and this match taking place at a neutral site, this could be the Tar Heels chance to make a big statement early in the season.
Watch More NCAA Action This Weekend
The Wolverine Invitational hosted by Utah Valley will feature Kansas, Long Beach State, and Montana on August 31- September 2. Watch live here.
The Boise State Invitational on August 31- September 2 features hosts Boise State, BYU, Mizzou, and Sacramento State. Watch live here.
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