PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Cincinnati junior right side and outside hitter Jordan Thompson has been named the American Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year for the second straight season—this time in a unanimous fashion, while first year conference member Wichita State took first place in the 2017 Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
The Shockers, who claimed their fourth Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title last year, received 116 points and seven first place votes in the poll to clinch the top spot. Wichita State enters The American after posting at least 20 wins in 14 straight seasons and coming off a trip to the NCAA tournament. Seniors Abbie Lehman and Emily Hiebert each were placed on the Preseason All-Conference list. The two seniors have combined for five career first team all-league accolades. Wichita State is also receiving votes in the AVCA Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
Just behind the Shockers in second place was Cincinnati with 113 points and the remaining five first place votes. The Bearcats concluded their 2016 campaign with a 22-10 overall record, taking second place in the league before earning an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. Cincinnati returns four starters and had the most Preseason All-Conference selections this year, including Thompson, along with classmates Carly Nolan and Jade Tingelhoff. Thompson, a 2016 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention, picked up her fourth major conference accolade after being named unanimous Player of the Year (2016), Preseason Player of the Year (2016), and Freshman of the Year (2015). A two- time First Team All-Conference selection, she holds the conference’s records with 5.50 points per set last season and 4.42 career kills per set. The Bearcats earned two additional major awards last season with head coach Molly Alvey chosen as Coach of the Year and Tingelhoff picking up the league’s Setter of the Year honor.
Temple secured third place in the poll after receiving 101 points. The Owls ended the year with a 22-8 slate, taking third place in conference standings. Temple also defeated each team in the conference at least once and returns four starters, including two unanimous Preseason All-Conference and 2016 First Team All-Conference selections in seniors Irem Asci and Izzy Rapacz.
Two-time defending conference champion SMU took fourth in the poll with 90 points. In 2016, head coach Lisa Seifert led the Mustangs to their second straight conference title with a program best 18-2 record in conference play. SMU went on to become the first team in conference history to win an NCAA Tournament game when the Mustangs swept Texas A&M in the first round. Despite losing three key starters including last year’s Libero of the Year Morgan Heise, the Mustangs return 2016 Freshman of the Year Kendall Patterson, as well as senior AVCA All-America Honorable Mention and First Team All-Conference selection Katie Hegarty. Both of them were voted to this year’s Preseason All-Conference team. SMU joins Wichita State in receiving votes in the AVCA Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
Rounding off the top five with 82 points was UCF, who concluded the year in fourth place in league standings with a 23-10 record. UCF lost three-time First Team All-Conference standout Jale´ Hervey but returns four key players with redshirt-senior outside hitter Kia Bright earning Preseason All-Conference honors.
Following in sixth place was USF (62 points) with UConn just two points behind in seventh place with 60. The Huskies’ redshirt-sophomore outside side hitter Kayla Williams was a unanimous Preseason All-Conference choice. Tulane brought in 55 points to land in eighth, as Kaylie McHugh earned the final spot on the Preseason All-Conference team for the Green Wave. Tulsa registered 45 points for ninth place, while Memphis took 10th with 31 points. East Carolina (25 points) and Houston (12 points) took the 11th and 12th place spots, respectively.
Opening day for the 2017 volleyball season is set for Friday, August 25, and conference play begins on Friday, September 22.
2017 American Athletic Conference Volleyball Preseason Honors
Preseason Coaches’ Poll
| Place |
School |
Points |
1st Place Votes |
| 1. |
Wichita State |
116 |
7 |
| 2. |
Cincinnati |
113 |
5 |
| 3. |
Temple |
101 |
|
| 4. |
SMU |
90 |
|
| 5. |
UCF |
82 |
|
| 6. |
USF |
62 |
|
| 7. |
UConn |
60 |
|
| 8. |
Tulane |
55 |
|
| 9. |
Tulsa |
45 |
|
| 10. |
Memphis |
31 |
|
| 11. |
East Carolina |
25 |
|
| 12. |
Houston |
12 |
|
Preseason Player of the Year:
Jordan Thompson, Cincinnati*
Preseason Team:
Kia Bright, UCF*
Kayla Williams, UConn
Carly Nolan, Cincinnati
Jordan Thompson, Cincinnati
Jade Tingelhoff, Cincinnati*
Katie Hegarty, SMU*
Kendall Patterson, SMU
Kaylie McHugh, Tulane
Irem Asci, Temple*
Izzy Rapacz, Temple*
Emily Hiebert, Wichita State*
Abbie Lehman, Wichita State
[*] Denotes unanimous selection
Ties are not broken if team exceeds 12 players