Virginia Tops ACC Preseason Coaches Poll

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia field hockey team has been voted to finish first in the ACC Coaches preseason poll, as announced Tuesday (Aug. 20) by the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Additionally, senior goalkeeper Tyler Kennedy, senior back Jans Croon, senior midfielder Noa Boterman and junior midfielder Daniela Mendez-Trendler were named to the Preseason All-ACC team.

The Cavaliers received four first-place votes and tallied 76 total points in the poll, one point ahead of 2023 NCAA Champion North Carolina. The Tar Heels picked up four first-place votes. Third-place Duke received the remaining first-place vote, tallying 63 points.

Virginia led all teams with four student-athletes recognized on the 15-player Preseason All-ACC team. North Carolina and Duke each had three, Boston College two, and Syracuse, Louisville and Wake Forest with one apiece.

The ACC leads all conferences with 23 NCAA field hockey titles. The conference has placed at least one team in the national championship game in 31 of the past 35 seasons, including last year’s title by North Carolina.

Virginia opens the season on Friday, Aug. 30 at Penn State.

2024 ACC Field Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll

1 – Virginia (4), 76
2 – North Carolina (4), 75
3 – Duke (1), 63
T-4 – Louisville, 46
T-4 – Syracuse, 46
6 – Boston College, 40
7 – Wake Forest, 29
T-8 – California, 15
T-8 – Stanford, 15

First-place votes in parentheses 

2024 Preseason All-ACC Team
Peyton Hale, Boston College, M
Eva Kluskens, Boston College, MF
Paige Bitting, Duke, M/B
Alaina McVeigh, Duke, F
Charlie van Oirschot, Duke, M
Aimee Plumb, Louisville, M
Sietske Brüning, North Carolina, M/B
Katie Dixon, North Carolina, M/B
Ryleigh Heck, North Carolina, F
Willemijn Boogert, Syracuse, M
Noa Boterman, Virginia, M
Jans Croon, Virginia, B
Tyler Kennedy, Virginia, GK
Daniela Mendez Trendler, Virginia, M
Mia Schoenbeck, Wake Forest, B/M