TRAFFORD, Pa. (Aug. 21)- The Saint Vincent women's volleyball team was picked first in the Presidents Athletic Conference South Division pre-season poll, per the conferences release this morning.

Led by veteran Head Coach Sue Hozak, the Bearcats are the reigning PAC runners-up. SVC advanced to their first ever PAC Championship last season, before falling to Allegheny in the PAC title match.

Additionally, three Bearcats were named to the PAC Players to Watch list. Senior Lauren Fox, along with sophomores Meegan Williams and Dakota Hershberger all made the list for SVC. Williams is the reigning PAC Newcomer of the Year as well as a First Team All-PAC selection, while Fox earned Honorable Mention honors last year as well.

SVC received eight of the 12 first place votes in the South Division, while W&J was picked second, earning three first place votes and Chatham was picked third, picking up one first place vote. In the north division, reigning PAC champion Allegheny earned nine of the 12 first place votes to finish first in the pre-season voting, while Grove City and Westminster rounded out the top three.

The Bearcats open their season on Friday, August 29 hosting the annual two-day Bearcat Challenge Tournament. Saint Vincent will open the tournament against Carlow at 2 p.m. on Friday, before taking on RIT later that night at 6 p.m., both in the Robert S. Carey Center.