Rice Named Preseason Favorite in AAC Coaches Poll; McCardell Earns All-Conference Honors
8/26/2024 10:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
The fifth-year senior is the Owls’ lone all-conference honoree
IRVING, Texas – The Rice Owls volleyball team earned eight of 13 total first place votes to finish atop of the 2024 American Athletic Conference Coaches Poll, announced Monday morning by the conference.
In just its second season in the AAC, the Owls are predicted to finish first in the conference. This comes after a 12-7 season where the team finished third in the West Division of the AAC. This season, there will not be divisions in the conference.
The AAC also announced its preseason all-conference team, where Owls libero Nia McCardell earned preseason honors as voted on by coaches and SIDs around the league.
McCardell earns the nod after earning All-Conference Second Team honors last season, along with three separate defensive player of the week honors. In 2022, the libero earned VolleyballMag.com All-American Honorable Mention honors and was named the Conference USA Player of the Year.
The Owls open the season this weekend in the first Rice Invitational of the season. The field for the event includes the Houston Christian Huskies, the Texas State Bobcats, and the Texas Southern Tigers, but the Owls will only face the two former opponents.
The full preseason poll and team can be seen below.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
Offensive Player of the Year
Angeles Alderete Jr., OH, East Carolina
Preseason All-Conference Team
Lara Kretchmer, Gr., MB, Charlotte
Angeles Alderete, Jr., OH, East Carolina*
Valeria Rosado, Sr., OH/RS, Florida Atlantic*
Aryn Johnson, Sr., OH, North Texas
Nia McCardell, 5th, L/DS, Rice
Maria Clara Andrade, Jr., OH, South Florida
Caroline Dykes, Sr., S, South Florida
Taylor Davenport, Gr., OH, Temple
Mia Sorensen, Jr., OPP, UTSA*
Avery Burks, So., OH, Tulane
Morgan Stout, R-Sr., MB, Wichita State*
Izzi Strand, 5th, S, Wichita State*
*denotes unanimous selection
In just its second season in the AAC, the Owls are predicted to finish first in the conference. This comes after a 12-7 season where the team finished third in the West Division of the AAC. This season, there will not be divisions in the conference.
The AAC also announced its preseason all-conference team, where Owls libero Nia McCardell earned preseason honors as voted on by coaches and SIDs around the league.
McCardell earns the nod after earning All-Conference Second Team honors last season, along with three separate defensive player of the week honors. In 2022, the libero earned VolleyballMag.com All-American Honorable Mention honors and was named the Conference USA Player of the Year.
The Owls open the season this weekend in the first Rice Invitational of the season. The field for the event includes the Houston Christian Huskies, the Texas State Bobcats, and the Texas Southern Tigers, but the Owls will only face the two former opponents.
The full preseason poll and team can be seen below.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
| 1 | Rice (8) | 136 |
| 2 | Wichita State (4) | 127 |
| 3 | South Florida (1) | 121 |
| 4 | East Carolina | 106 |
| 5 | Florida Atlantic | 104 |
| 6 | North Texas | 86 |
| 7 | UTSA | 79 |
| 8 | Temple | 57 |
| 9 | Memphis | 56 |
| 10 | Tulsa | 52 |
| 11 | Charlotte | 36 |
| 12 | Tulane | 30 |
| 13 | UAB | 24 |
Offensive Player of the Year
Angeles Alderete Jr., OH, East Carolina
Preseason All-Conference Team
Lara Kretchmer, Gr., MB, Charlotte
Angeles Alderete, Jr., OH, East Carolina*
Valeria Rosado, Sr., OH/RS, Florida Atlantic*
Aryn Johnson, Sr., OH, North Texas
Nia McCardell, 5th, L/DS, Rice
Maria Clara Andrade, Jr., OH, South Florida
Caroline Dykes, Sr., S, South Florida
Taylor Davenport, Gr., OH, Temple
Mia Sorensen, Jr., OPP, UTSA*
Avery Burks, So., OH, Tulane
Morgan Stout, R-Sr., MB, Wichita State*
Izzi Strand, 5th, S, Wichita State*
*denotes unanimous selection
Players Mentioned
L/DS
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