Greenville lands on top for three teams in conference preseason polls
Greenville landed in the top three for the conference preseason polls across all fall sports.
GREENVILLE, Ill. – Greenville landed in the top three for the conference preseason polls across all fall sports. Women's volleyball and men's and women's cross country were ranked number one by conference coaches, followed by the two soccer programs at number two and football at three.
Women's volleyball is in first place for the SLIAC, ahead of Westminster by ten points, with two returning players on the watchlist. Sophomore outside hitter, Abby Grohmann, and junior middle blocker, Lainey Hicks, are both on the 2024 preseason watchlist.
Men's and women's cross country were both voted number one for this season. Both teams have a handful of runners on the SLIAC preseason watchlist. Below are the voted top returners:
| MEN: | WOMEN: |
| Gianni Estrada | Emily Bohm |
| Jalen Franz | Gretchen Carie |
| Joe Gomez | Makenna Hintz |
| James Goodenow | Brook Schutt |
| Tony Lakotich | Norah Swinigan |
| Josh Medlin | Delanie Ulrich |
| Jeremiah Perry | Raven Vance |
| Drake Rutledge |
Men's and women's soccer came in close second for their preseason polls. The men's program placed right behind Lyon, receiving 70 points and two first-place votes in the poll. Senior forward, Gabriel Sule, represents the Panthers in the preseason watchlist.
The women's team was voted second, a mere five points behind Webster. Eight returners landed on the SLIAC watchlist:
| WATCHLIST: |
| Vanessa Ramirez |
| Jordan Peebles |
| Allyson Schulz |
| Emma Cadwell |
| Same De La Cruz |
| Ashlie Johnston Cabral |
| Addison Miller |
| Maddie Missey |
Lastly, the UMAC came out with its 2024 preseason football polls today, placing Greenville football at number three. In 2023, the Panthers led the conference in points per game and points allowed. The UMAC named six top returners from GU:
| TOP RETURNERS: |
| Dustin Konvalinka |
| Kaiden Cervantes |
| Delrey Crowder |
| Thomas Linnear |
| Kourtland Harris |
| Elias Velasquez |
On Friday, women's volleyball and men's and women's soccer kick off their 2024 seasons. Volleyball travels to Ohio Northern for the Cedar Point Invitational, while men's soccer travels to Rose-Hulman. Women's soccer hosts DePauw at 5:00 p.m. on Francis Field.
Cross country and football start their season next weekend. Men's and women's cross country are running in the Prairie Stars Invitational at Ill.-Springfield on September 6th. Football hosts Concordia Chicago at 1:00 p.m. on the 7th.