IRVING, Texas— The 2023 American Athletic Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll and Honors were officially released on Monday. UTSA was picked to finish seventh among the West Division teams and received 21 points ahead of its inaugural AAC campaign.
The Roadrunners share a division with the two highest-scoring preseason squads, as SMU topped the list earning 78 points and seven first-place votes, while Rice scored 76 with six choosing them as the league's best. Wichita State followed in fourth with 59 points, North Texas 52, ahead of Tulsa, earning 30, and Tulane 24 in sixth.
Memphis led the East Division, scoring 72 and picking up six first-place nods. Not far behind, East Carolina received 70 points and five first-place selections. Also earning a first-place vote, Florida Atlantic was picked third with 48, tying Temple. Rounding things out in the East, South Florida was selected fifth and received a first-place vote for 37 points, UAB sixth with 25, and Charlotte seventh with 33.
Additionally, Jamison Wheeler of SMU was named the West Division Preseason Player of the Year, while Wichita State's Brylee Kelley earned the accolade in the East.
The full American Athletic Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll and Honors can be found below:
West Division
- SMU (7) 78
- Rice (6) 76
- Wichita State 59
- North Texas 52
- Tulsa 30
- Tulane 24
- UTSA 21
East Division
1. Memphis (6) 72
2. East Carolina (5) 70
3. Florida Atlantic (1) 48
Temple 48
5. South Florida (1) 37
6. UAB 35
7. Charlotte 33
(#) denotes first place votes
Preseason Player of the Year
Jamison Wheeler, Jr., OH, SMU
Brylee Kelly, R-Sr., OH, Wichita State
Preseason All-Conference Team
Angeles Alderete, So., OH, East Carolina
Bailey Houlihan, Sr., L, Memphis
Sh'Diamond Holly, Sr., MB, North Texas
Aryn Johnson, Jr., OH, North Texas
Treyaunna Rush, Sr., OPP, North Texas
Nia McCardell, Sr., L/DS, Rice
Danyle Courtley, Sr., OH, Rice
Sahara Maruska, Sr., OH, Rice
Emilia Weske, Gr., RS, Rice
Emma Clothier, Gr., MB, SMU
Celia Cullen, Sr., S, SMU
Jamison Wheeler, Jr., OH, SMU*
Kayley, Cassaday, 5th, OH, Tulsa
Natalie Foster, Jr., MB/RS, Wichita State
Brylee Kelly, R-Sr., OH, Wichita State*
* denotes unanimous selection
Keep up with UTSA Volleyball all season long on goutsa.com, and by following the program on Facebook at /UTSAVBall, Twitter @UTSAVolleyball, and on Instagram @utsa_vb.
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