Concord Voted Third In MEC South Preseason Poll

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – The Concord University volleyball team has been predicted to finish third in the Mountain East Conference's South Division in the Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league office announced Monday morning.

THE POLL

Place	Team (First Place Votes)	Points
1.	Charleston (7)	57
2.	West Virginia State (3)	49
3.	Concord (1)	46
4.	West Virginia Wesleyan	34
5.	Glenville State	21
6.	Davis & Elkins	18

 
MEC North Poll: Wheeling (9) 49, Fairmont State (1) 37, West Liberty (1) 35, Frostburg State 23, Point Park 16.

2024 REVIEW
The Mountain Lions won 17 games, the most since 2016 and finished with a 17-16 overall record. CU had one of its best conference slates to date, winning nine MEC matchups, their most conference wins since 1992. The team got off to a slow start in 2024, dropping the first six matches. The Concord Classic ignited the team where they won five straight, and finished the season with 15 of their last 22 matches.  They finished third in the MEC South Division, and won the opening match in the conference tournament, a five-setter against West Liberty. Concord fell in the next round to eventual conference champions, West Virginia State.

2025 SCHEDULE
The Mountain Lions travel east to Ettrick, Va. to open the season at the VSU invite hosted by Virginia State on September 5-6. They'll head back to the Old Dominion State for the Cavalier Classic on September 12-13 hosted by UVA Wise. CU opens the home slate the next week with the Concord Classic September 18-20. The Maroon and Gray hosts the conference opener September 26 when Frostburg State comes to town. Defending MEC conference champions, West Virginia State, come to town September 30. The last regular season home matchup of the season is November 10 when Davis & Elkins comes to the Carter Center.

THE KEY RETURNERS
Meg Williams expanded on her fantastic freshman campaign with a stellar sophomore season. Named to the All-MEC First Team in 2024, the outside hitter returns for her junior season at Concord. She racked up 447 points last season, tied for third most in the conference. Her 382 kills also ranked fourth best in the MEC. She is joined by the starting libero, Allie Davis. Davis was also given an all-conference nod, playing her into the All-MEC Second Team. Davis led the team with 590 digs, good for second most in the MEC. Chloe Thompson was named an All-MEC Honorable Mention. Thompson was third on the team in points with 345.5 and second in kills with 324. Junior middle-hitter Jasmine Anderson returns after recording 101 blocks and a hitting percentage of .226. Those rank second and third on the team, respectively. Paige Richmond is yet another talented junior returning to the arsenal of the Mountain Lions. The starting setter led the team with 656 assists and 38 aces. Sophomore right side Maddie Stull appeared in 31 matches, starting four of those, contributed 53 kills and 31 blocks in her freshman season.

THE NEWCOMERS
The most-tenured coach at Concord University is back for her 17^th season overseeing the volleyball program. Head coach Kate Dillon added 10 freshmen to the roster for 2025. The newcomers include four from the state of West Virginia, middle hitter Addison Adkins (Wayne, W.Va./Wayne), outside hitter Alexis Stack (Crab Orchard, W.Va./Greenbrier East), right side Addy Johnson (Ballard, W.Va/Narrows), and setter Hannah Rhodes (Peterstown, W.Va/James Monroe). The rest of the incoming freshman include right side Sadie Robinson (Wytheville, Va./Fort Chiswell), outside hitter Brooklyn McCroskey (Narrows, Va./Narrows), defensive specialist Zora Stradford (Elgin, S.C./Lugoff-Elgin), outside hitter Mackenzie Wright (Clintwood, Va./Ridgeview), middle hitter Livia Balling (Michigan City, Ind./Marquette Catholic), and her twin sister and right side Elaina Balling (Michigan City, Ind./Marquette Catholic).