TOP PHOTO: Anna Cain, left, and Bryan are gearing up for a big season.

DAYTON, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF) – Former Campbell County Lady Cougar Anna Cain is good to go for her junior season on the Bryan Volleyball Team. The 5-11 outside hitter and her Lady Lions start the year on Sat., Aug. 28, at home. See the full schedule HERE.

The Bryan College Volleyball team has been picked to finish second in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC), according to the 2021 AAC Coaches’ Preseason Poll released Tuesday. The Lady Lions will be chasing their second AAC Regular Season Championship in a row.

Cain carries on the family tradition of wearing jersey number 45 at Bryan. The number was worn there by he sister Sarah in basketball and in baseball by brothers Tucker and John, who was first to wear 45.

The poll was voted upon by the league’s 15 coaches. Each team received 15 points for a first-place vote, 14 for second place, 13 for third, and so on. The teams are ranked by the highest point total.

Bryan is picked to finish second, having received two first-place votes and 206 points. The Lady Lions ended 2020-21 with an 18-6 overall record and went 17-2 in league play. Due to the point system used to determine seeding for the conference tournament, Bryan claimed the AAC regular-season and the No. 1 seed. Bryan also advanced to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round.

Seems like yesterday when Anna Cain signed with Bryan. She was joined on signing day by brother Tucker and sister Sarah along with parents Melissa and Mark Cain.

The league is divided into divisions with eight playing in the North Division and seven in the South Division. The teams making up the North Division are Bluefield, Bryan, Johnson, Kentucky Christian, Milligan, Montreat, Tennessee Wesleyan, and Union. In the South Division, the teams are Brenau, Columbia, Columbia International, Point, Reinhardt, St. Andrews, and Truett McConnell.

The 2021 AAC Tournament is currently set for Nov. 10-13 at the MeadowView Marriott Conference Resort & Convention Center.

The 2021 AAC Volleyball Preseason Poll

Team (1st-Place Votes) – Total Points

  1. Reinhardt (11) – 217
  2. Bryan (2) – 206
  3. Milligan (1) – 183
  4. Columbia International – 172
  5. Truett McConnell – 169
  6. Union (1) – 168
  7. Point – 133
  8. Bluefield – 130
  9. St. Andrews – 90
  10. Montreat – 86
  11. Tennessee Wesleyan – 70
  12. Brenau – 65
  13. Johnson – 56
  14. Columbia – 35
  15. Kentucky Christian – 20

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