AUGUSTA, GA – The Peach Belt Conference has released the 2022 volleyball season preview containing the preseason coaches poll and the All-Conference team. Senior middle hitter Alexis Diaz-Infante was named to the PBC Preseason All-Conference Team. Augusta Volleyball was voted second in the preseason poll. The season will begin on Friday, Aug. 26 with conference play starting Friday, Sept. 9.

Augusta won their PBC-record fourth consecutive PBC Tournament championship in 2021 and won the NCAA regional for the first time in program history to advance to the Elite Eight. The Jaguars return four seniors and three juniors for the 2022 season with second-team All-Conference selection Alexis Diaz-Infante anchoring the front line.

Flagler was voted the league's preseason favorite. The Saints received three of a possible five first-place votes for 23 points, just ahead of second-place Augusta who had two first-place votes and 21 points. USC Aiken was third in the voting with Lander, Georgia College and Young Harris completing the poll.

The 2022 preseason coaches poll is below with first-place votes in parentheses. Coaches were not permitted to rank their own teams.

2022 PBC Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
 

Rank	Team	Points
1.	Flagler (3)	23
2.	Augusta (2)	21
3.	USC Aiken (1)	18
4.	Lander	14
5.	Georgia College	8
6.	Young Harris	6

Preseason All-Conference Team

Alexis Diaz-Infante, Augusta

• A senior middle blocker from Phoenix, Ariz.
• Named a second-team All-Conference selection last year
• Ranked fourth in the PBC in total blocks and 10^th in hitting percentage
• Had eight games of double-digit kills including 13 in the NCAA regional final against Lenoir-Rhyne and 17 against Georgia College; also had six blocks against USC Aiken, tied for fifth-most in a single match in the PBC
• Named to the PBC Team of Academic Distinction and a PBC Presidential Honor Roll Gold Scholar, she was also a recipient of the D2ADA Academic Achievement Award

Christina Aguayo, Lander

• A junior outside hitter from Las Cruces, N.M.
• A first-team All-Conference selection in 2021
• Led the team and was second in the PBC with 3.75 kills per set
• Twice named the PBC Player of the Week last season, she had two matches of 23 kills each, both of which are tied for fourth-most in a single match in the PBC last year
• A PBC Presidential Honor Roll Presidential Scholar

Jordan Berglin, Flagler

• A sophomore outside hitter from Pewaukee, Wisc.
• A PBC first-team All-Conference selection, she is the 2021 PBC Freshman of the Year, the AVCA Southeast Region Freshman of the Year and was an AVCA all-region honorable mention
• Made 25 starts her freshman season; was second on the team and ninth in the PBC with 2.59 kills per game
• Averaged 1.86 digs and 0.41 blocks per set with three double-doubles on the season including a 20-kill, 22-dig performance against USC Aiken
• A PBC Presidential Honor Roll Silver Scholar

Logan Garcia, Flagler

• A senior middle hitter from Ocala, Fla.
• A first-team All-Conference selection last season, she was also named first-team All-Region by the D2CCA and AVCA All-Region honorable mention
• Ranked fourth in the PBC in hitting percentage and sixth in blocks per set and was named the PBC Player of the Week on Nov. 15
• Set a school record with 12 total blocks against Augusta, which was the most by any player in a single match in the PBC
• Had seven matches with double-digit kills

Rachel Machovec, Georgia College

• A graduate student outside hitter from Buckhead, Ga.
• Transferred to GC from Flagler where she was a first-team All-Conference selection last season and named to the All-Tournament team
• Ranked seventh in the PBC in kills per set and 10^th in digs per set
• Had eight double-doubles on the year including a 19-kill, 22-dig match against Valdosta State
• A PBC Presidential Honor Roll Presidential Scholar

Kari Mercer, USC Aiken

• A junior libero/defensive specialist from Hilliard, Ohio
• A D2CCA third-team All-American in 2022, she was named the PBC Libero of the Year and a second-team All-Conference selection
• Led the Peach Belt with 6.05 digs per set which was 11^th in NCAA Division II
• The PBC Specialist of the Week on Sept. 14, she had four matches of 30 or more digs including 36 against Flagler which was tied for second-most in a single match in the PBC
• A PBC Presidential Honor Roll Gold Scholar, she was named to the PBC Team of Academic Distinction

Kennedy Muff, Flagler

• A junior setter from Antioch, Ill.
• The 2021 PBC Setter of the Year, she was a first-team All-Conference selection, an AVCA All-America honorable mention and named AVCA All-Region
• A four-time PBC Specialist of the Week, she was ranked second in the PBC in total assists and assists per set; also ranked second in the league in hitting percentage and added 1.38 kills and 1.94 digs per set
• Had seven double-doubles on the year including a 33-assist, 13-dig effort against Augusta and a season-high 53 assists against USC Aiken
• The PBC Elite 16 Award winner for volleyball, she is a Presidential Honor Roll Gold Scholar, named to the PBC Team of Academic Distinction and a recipient of the D2ADA Academic Achievement Award

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