Lenoir-Rhyne Earns No. 1 Vote in USILA Preseason Poll; Four Other SAC Schools Among Top 20
ROCK HILL, S.C. (theSAC.com) - The Lenoir-Rhyne Bears were voted the No. 1 team in the USILA Preseason Coaches Poll, released Thursday (Feb. 1).
Lenoir-Rhyne captured their first National Championship to conclude the 2023 season, finishing 8-1 in conference play and 18-3 overall.
Wingate earned the No. 3 spot in the preseason poll, followed closely by Limestone at No. 4. Newberry was voted No. 14, and Anderson concluded the preseason poll at No. 20.
In addition to the preseason poll, the USILA also announced the 2024 Preseason All-Americans. Lenoir-Rhyne's Colton McCracken and Victor Powell, Wingate's Willie Grieco, Danny Riley, Joe Karnich, Trent Connolly, and Peyton Farley, Limestone's Michael McGarry and Chris Erneston, and Newberry's Baker Westmoreland were all honored as Preseason All-Americans.
2024 USILA Preseason Poll
| Rank | Org | Total Score | First Place Votes | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lenoir-Rhyne | 439 | 21 | - |
| 2 | Rollins College | 393 | 1 | - |
| 3 | Wingate | 376 | 0 | - |
| 4 | Limestone | 350 | 0 | - |
| 5 | University of Tampa | 341 | 0 | - |
| 6 | Adelphi University | 338 | 0 | - |
| 7 | Mercyhurst | 315 | 0 | - |
| 8 | St. Anselm | 269 | 0 | - |
| 9 | U of Indianapolis | 252 | 0 | - |
| 10 | Bentley | 213 | 0 | - |
| 11 | Seton Hill | 201 | 0 | - |
| 12 | Mercy College | 183 | 0 | - |
| 13 | Florida Southern | 177 | 0 | - |
| 14 | Newberry | 158 | 0 | - |
| 15 | Pace | 155 | 0 | - |
| 16 | Colorado Mesa | 134 | 0 | - |
| 17 | Frostburg State University | 119 | 0 | - |
| 18 | Lewis University | 32 | 0 | - |
| 19 | Landers University | 30 | 0 | - |
| 20 | Anderson University | 27 | 0 | - |
| Rockhurst College | 24 | 0 | - | |
| Barton | 23 | 0 | - | |
| Belmont Abbey | 20 | 0 | - | |
| Maryville University | 18 | 0 | - | |
| Florida Tech | 12 | 0 | - | |
| S. New Hampshire | 8 | 0 | - | |
| College of St Rose | 3 | 0 | - | |
| Saint Leo University | 3 | 0 | - | |
| Chestnut Hill | 2 | 0 | - | |
| Westminster College (Utah) | 2 | 0 | - | |
| Georgian Court | 1 | 0 | - | |
| N Greenville U | 1 | 0 | - | |
| Roberts Wesleyan College | 1 | 0 | - |