Cassaday Named to Preseason All-Conference Team

IRVING, Texas — Fifth-year outside hitter Kayley Cassaday was named to the Preseason All-Conference Team Monday in The American's annual Preseason Coaches' Poll. Tulsa was ranked fifth of seven teams in the West Division.

From Overland Park, Kan., Cassaday led Tulsa with 525 kills at 4.49 kills per set last season, both ranking as the second-highest marks in The American. She also produced 251 digs, 35 blocks and 19 aces. She took control of the offensive attack early on, registering 50 or more attacks in 17 matches to end the season with a nation-leading average of 14.07 attacks per set.

For her efforts last season, Cassaday was named to The American's Weekly Honor Roll five times on the way to earning first-team all-conference honors and a spot on the Academic All-America Second Team.

SMU edged Rice as the favorite to finish atop the conference this season. Behind them in West Division voting are Wichita State, North Texas, Tulsa, Tulane and UTSA.

Memphis leads the East Division with six first-place votes with East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Temple, South Florida, UAB and Charlotte rounding out the poll.

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

Cassaday Named to Preseason All-Conference Team

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