The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
AAC Announces 2023 Preseason Coaches' Poll Rankings
8/21/2023 10:02:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
IRVING – UAB Volleyball enters their first week of the 2023 season with preseason coaches poll rankings announced by the American Athletic Conference. The Blazers were selected to finish sixth in the AAC East.
The Green and Gold completed their final season as a member of Conference USA with a record of 12-15 and 7-7 in conference play. UAB finished fifth after being slated to finish sixth before falling to UNT in the C-USA Volleyball Tournament.
UAB, along with Charlotte, Rice, UNT and UTSA made the jump from C-USA to the American, with the Blazers starting their first season in a new conference in over two decades. The Green and Gold were selected to finish sixth over Charlotte, while Memphis was selected to finish first in the AAC East.
In the AAC West, SMU and Rice were selected to finish first and second, with C-USA-turned-AAC member Rice to take second.
AAC PRESEASON COACHES POLL RANKINGS
American Championship
1. SMU (7)2. Rice (6)
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
(#) 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
UP NEXT
The Blazers open up their home schedule with the UAB Invitational, hosting Austin Peay State, Buffalo and FAMU at Bartow Arena on Aug. 25-27.
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