IRVING, Texas – SMU narrowly edged Rice for top billing in the 2023 American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll announced Monday, as voted on by the league's head coaches.
Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team in the preseason poll or their own student-athletes for the individual honors.
Starting this season, The American will have 14 teams competing in volleyball with the additions of UAB, Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, North Texas, Rice and UTSA joining continuing members East Carolina, Memphis, South Florida, SMU, Temple Tulane, Tulsa and Wichita State.
The Mustangs were named the favorites after receiving seven first-place votes from the league's other coaches, earning 162 points. Incoming member and 2022 Conference USA Champion Rice, finished in second place in the voting, earning the remaining six first-place votes and 160 total points.
SMU was also picked to win the West Division, earning seven first place votes and 78 points, narrowly edging Rice with six first-place votes and 76 points. Wichita State was third with 59 points, followed by North Texas (52), Tulsa (30), Tulane (24) and UTSA (21).
The West Division looks to be just as tight, as Memphis earned the top spot with 72 points after receiving six first place votes. East Carolina finished just behind with 70 points and five-first place votes. Florida Atlantic (one first-place vote) and Temple finished tied for third with 48 points, followed by South Florida (37; one first-place vote), UAB (35) and Charlotte (33).
SMU's junior outside hitter Jamison Wheeler and Wichita State's redshirt-senior outside hitter Brylee Kelly were named the Preseason Players of the Year, marking the second time in conference history that the award has been shared.
Wheeler become the second Mustang (Avery Acker, S, 2015) to claim American Preseason Player of the Year. She was a First Team All-Conference selection a season ago. The Austin, Texas native finished sixth in The American in kills per set (3.41) and points per set (4.02), and second in service aces per set (0.42).
Kelly is the first Shocker to be named the American Preseason Player of the Year. She was a First Team All-Conference selection in 2022, finishing 8
th in The American in kills per set (3.27) and seventh in points per set (3.82).
Four of the twelve members of the 2022 All-American Athletic Conference First Team were named to the 2023 Preseason All-Conference Team with Wheeler and Kelly both being unanimous selections. Three member of the Conference USA First Team All-Conference selections were selected to the 2023 Preseason American All-Conference Team including the 2022 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year Sh'Diamond Holly (North Texas) and 2022 C-USA Libero of the Year Nia McCardell (Rice).
Rice led all teams with four selections on the preseason squad, while North Texas and SMU each had three honorees. Wichita State had two selections, while East Carolina, Memphis and Tulsa each earned one selection.
American Championship
West Division
| 1. |
SMU (7) |
78 |
| 2. |
Rice (6) |
76 |
| 3. |
Wichita State |
59 |
| 4. |
North Texas |
52 |
| 5. |
Tulsa |
30 |
| 6. |
Tulane |
24 |
| 7. |
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 |
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, 5
th, OH, Tulsa
Natalie Foster, Jr., MB/RS, Wichita State
Brylee Kelly, R-Sr., OH, Wichita State*
* denotes unanimous selection