NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference on Tuesday announced its 2023 Preseason All-Sun Belt Team, individual awards and Preseason Coaches Poll for volleyball. The honors and poll were voted upon by the league’s 14 head coaches.
James Madison senior outside hitter Miëtte Veldman was selected as the Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while her teammate Sophie Davis was chosen as the Sun Belt Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. South Alabama’s Kailey Keeble was voted the Sun Belt Preseason Setter of the Year and Southern Miss’ Megan Harris was tabbed the Sun Belt Preseason Libero of the Year.
In the Preseason Coaches Poll, James Madison was selected as the favorite in the Sun Belt East Division. The Dukes, who claimed the 2022 Sun Belt regular-season and tournament championships, finished with a 24-5 overall record and a 15-1 league mark last season, representing the Sun Belt in the NCAA Tournament. James Madison garnered 13 first-place votes in the East Division, while App State earned one.
South Alabama was picked to top the Sun Belt West Division. The Jaguars garnered 10 first-place votes, while Texas State had three first-place votes and Arkansas State one. South Alabama was 18-13 overall last season with a 10-6 tally in SBC play, finishing second in the West Division.
Veldman was a First-Team All-Sun Belt Conference selection in 2022, earning Honorable Mention All-Southeast Region accolades from the American Volleyball Coaches Association. She ranked third in the Sun Belt with 4.07 kills per set and was fourth in the league in points per set with 4.58. Veldman played in 104 sets and 28 matches last season, starting 27 matches. She logged 10 double-doubles on the year and was second on her team in digs per set with 2.41. Veldman was a two-time Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week selection in 2022.
Davis was the 2022 Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year, a First-Team All-Sun Belt selection and the Most Outstanding Performer of the 2022 Sun Belt Tournament. Davis also received Honorable Mention All-Southeast Region honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association last season. Davis led the Sun Belt in both hitting percentage (.407) and blocks per set (1.38). She ranked 12th nationally in hitting percentage and 21st in blocks per set. Her 4.09 points per set were also top-10 in the conference.
Keeble was a 2022 Second-Team All-Sun Belt selection and was the Most Outstanding Performer of the 2021 Sun Belt Tournament. Last season, Keeble ranked fourth in the Sun Belt in assists per set (10.15) and total assists (1,188). Keeble also was top-10 in the conference in total digs with 375. She started all 31 matches for the Jaguars a year ago, playing in 117 sets.
Harris led her team and the Sun Belt Conference last season in total digs (554) and digs per set (4.36). In Sun Belt Conference matches only, Harris led the league in both total digs (266) and digs per set (4.22). Harris’ 554 total digs on the season were the sixth-most by a Southern Miss player in a single season in program history. She ranked 30th nationally in total digs. She twice was named Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week in 2022.
2023 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Volleyball Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Miëtte Veldman, James Madison (OH, 5-10, Sr., Daleville, Va.)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Sophie Davis, James Madison (MB, 6-1, Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Preseason Setter of the Year:
Kailey Keeble, South Alabama (S, 5-8, Sr., Maryville, Tenn.)
Preseason Libero of the Year:
Megan Harris, Southern Miss (L, 5-4, Jr., Nesbit, Miss.)
Preseason All-Sun Belt
McCall Denny, App State (OH, 5-9, Sr., High Point, N.C.)
Maya Winterhoff, App State (MB, 6-2, So., Charlottesville, Va.)
Sophie Davis, James Madison (MB, 6-1, Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Caroline Dozier, James Madison (S, 6-0, Sr., Raleigh, N.C.)
Miëtte Veldman, James Madison (OH, 5-10, Sr., Daleville, Va.)
Myah Conway, Old Dominion (RS, 6-3, Jr., Orwigsburg, Pa.)
Niki Capizzi, South Alabama (MB, 6-3, Sr., Huntington Beach, Calif.)
Kailey Keeble, South Alabama (S, 5-8, Sr., Maryville, Tenn.)
Hannah Maddux, South Alabama (OH, 6-2, Sr., San Antonio, Texas)
Cara Atkinson, Southern Miss (MB, 6-2, Jr., Gardendale, Ala.)
Mia Wesley, Southern Miss (OH, 5-11, Jr., Orem, Utah)
Tori Hester, Troy (OH, 5-9, Jr., Salisbury, N.C.)
2023 Sun Belt Preseason Volleyball Coaches Poll
East Division
1. James Madison – 94 (13)
2. App State – 70 (1)
3. Coastal Carolina – 69
4. Georgia Southern – 55
5. Old Dominion – 54
6. Marshall – 29
7. Georgia State - 21
West Division
1. South Alabama - 93 (10)
2. Texas State - 77 (3)
3. Troy - 71
4. Southern Miss - 51
5. Louisiana - 47
6. Arkansas State - 37 (1)
7. ULM – 16