University of North Texas Athletics
Volleyball Lands Three on American Preseason List
8/21/2023 10:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
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
East Division
(#) 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.
Olympic Sport Passes for this year's UNT volleyball, soccer and softball seasons are available now. Fans can purchase a general admission Olympic Sport Pass for $75 and receive season tickets for all three teams.
Olympic Sport Passes
Volleyball Single-Match Tickets
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 |
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.
Olympic Sport Passes for this year's UNT volleyball, soccer and softball seasons are available now. Fans can purchase a general admission Olympic Sport Pass for $75 and receive season tickets for all three teams.
Olympic Sport Passes
Volleyball Single-Match Tickets
Players Mentioned
M
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OPP
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