The Kent State Tuscarawas Volleyball Team is tied for the No.1 spot in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association's (USCAA) first national coaches poll of the season. Golden Eagles volleyball has been on the rise for the past two years under the tutelage of second-year head coach Cortney Goodwin and missed the post season by a single vote one year ago.

Appearing in the rankings for just the second time in the team's brief seven-year USCAA membership history, the Eagles appeared at No.1 along with three other schools. Also tied for the top ranking are; defending USCAA National Champions Penn State Mont Alto, Cincinnati Clermont and Penn State York. The navy and gold knocked off Mont Alto in five-sets in a tri match earlier in the season on a neutral floor, and swept Clermont in three sets two weeks ago avenging a 3-2 loss to the Cougars in the USCAA Tip Off Classic on the first weekend of the season.

Also appearing in the Top 10 are Penn State Fayette (No. 5) and Penn State Beaver (No. 7) both of whom the Eagles have defeated this season.

With a very admirable record of 10-2 on the season, the Eagles look to better last season's No. 9 finish when they missed a post season invitation by just one point and ended the year with a 12-7 record. 

On Saturday, the volleyball team travels to Butler, PA, to meet up with Anne Arundel CC at 1 p.m. and Butler County Community College at 3 p.m. Their next home match is scheduled for Saturday, October 7 when they host Miami University Hamilton in a 1 p.m. dual.

Here's a link to the coaches poll: https://theuscaa.com/Coaches_Poll/2023-24/Fall/Week_1

In photos from recent matches, Lizzy bump sets Alivia and Cayla digs a serve in the back row.

(Photos by Rob Brindley)