Volleyball Lands Three on American Preseason List

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DENTON – UNT volleyball players Sh’Diamond Holly, Aryn Johnson and Treyaunna Rush were named to the 2023 American Athletic Preseason All-Conference Team, the league announced on Monday.

Holly is the reigning Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year and finished with a league-high 153 total blocks in 2022, which ranks fourth in single-season program history. She also ranks second in UNT volleyball single-season history with a .375 attack percentage.

Rush led the Mean Green with 423 kills last season and was honored as a first team All-CUSA selection. She added 96 blocks and was the team’s leader in points scored with 477.0 in 2022.

Junior outside hitter Johnson was a second team All-CUSA honoree last season. Over the conference slate, she finished second on the team in kills (183), digs (93) and points (209.5).

The three preseason selections mark a program record as North Texas had never placed more than two players on a preseason all-conference team before Monday’s announcement. On four occasions, UNT placed two players on the Preseason CUSA All-Conference Team, most recently in 2018.

North Texas was picked to finish fourth in the ultra-competitive west division in the American Preseason Poll, as voted on by the league’s coaches.

 

West Division

1.               SMU (7)                                    78

2.               No. 23 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

4.               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

 

The Mean Green opens its 2023 season on Friday against Campbell at the Buffs Invitational in Boulder, Colorado. First serve is set for 5 p.m. CT. North Texas will face UNLV and Colorado on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. UNT returns for its home opener on Aug. 29 versus Texas Southern at 6 p.m.