University of North Texas Athletics
Fouonji Named American Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Selection
8/19/2026 2:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
IRVING, Texas – Fifth-year middle blocker Loredana Fouonji was named an American Preseason All-Conference honoree, the league announced on Wednesday.
The Mean Green have now collected at least one Preseason All-Conference selection in nine of the last 10 years, including each since it joined the American in 2023. A Second Team performer last season, Fouonji is looking to become the program's 14th two-time All-Conference recipient ever.
Fouonji started 28 matches throughout the 2025 campaign while ranking second on the team with a .269 hitting percentage, totaling 196 kills on 464 attacks and finishing as its fourth-leading scorer at 270.5 points. Her 122.0 total blocks were also most among the Mean Green and the third-best mark in the conference.
In addition, Fouonji recorded double-digit kills seven times and at least four blocks in 17 different matches.
As a team, North Texas was picked sixth in the American Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. Despite receiving the No. 11 spot in last year's preseason poll, the Mean Green compiled 21 wins during Dave Fleming's debut season at the helm and finished fourth in the regular season standings with an 11-5 league record.
UNT opens the 2026 season on Friday, Aug. 28, against CSU Bakersfield at the Wildcat Classic in Abilene, Texas. Conference play is then scheduled to begin Friday, Sept. 25, as the Mean Green host Florida Atlantic at the UNT Volleyball Center.
American Conference Preseason Coaches Poll
Note: First-place votes in parenthesis
American Conference Preseason Player of the Year
Jill Hanson, So., MB, Tulsa
American Preseason All-Conference
Angeles Alderete, 5th, OH, East Carolina
Taryn Gilreath, Jr., S, East Carolina
Olivia Hart, Jr., OH, Florida Atlantic
Amanda Hardt, Sr., OH/RS, Memphis
Loredana Fouonji, 5th, MB, UNT
Kaia Mateo, Sr., S, Rice
Aaliyah Smith, So., OH, Rice
Arissa Smith, Sr., MB, Rice
Laila Ivey, Sr., OH, South Florida
Christiana Greene, Jr., OH, Temple
Avery Burks, Sr., OH, Tulane
Jill Hanson, So., MB, Tulsa
Olivia Vance, Sr., OH, Tulsa
Jordan Heatherly, Sr., S, Wichita State
Fans can purchase single-match tickets here or through the UNT Ticket Office. For more information about UNT Volleyball tickets, contact the Mean Green Ticket Office at 940-565-2527 or email ticketoffice@unt.edu. Fans can visit the UNT Athletics Ticket Office located at Gate 2 of DATCU Stadium between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Mean Green have now collected at least one Preseason All-Conference selection in nine of the last 10 years, including each since it joined the American in 2023. A Second Team performer last season, Fouonji is looking to become the program's 14th two-time All-Conference recipient ever.
Fouonji started 28 matches throughout the 2025 campaign while ranking second on the team with a .269 hitting percentage, totaling 196 kills on 464 attacks and finishing as its fourth-leading scorer at 270.5 points. Her 122.0 total blocks were also most among the Mean Green and the third-best mark in the conference.
In addition, Fouonji recorded double-digit kills seven times and at least four blocks in 17 different matches.
As a team, North Texas was picked sixth in the American Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. Despite receiving the No. 11 spot in last year's preseason poll, the Mean Green compiled 21 wins during Dave Fleming's debut season at the helm and finished fourth in the regular season standings with an 11-5 league record.
UNT opens the 2026 season on Friday, Aug. 28, against CSU Bakersfield at the Wildcat Classic in Abilene, Texas. Conference play is then scheduled to begin Friday, Sept. 25, as the Mean Green host Florida Atlantic at the UNT Volleyball Center.
American Conference Preseason Coaches Poll
| 1. Rice (12) | 144 |
| 2. Tulsa (1) | 120 |
| 3. South Florida | 117 |
| 4. Wichita State | 111 |
| 5. Florida Atlantic | 106 |
| 6. UNT | 78 |
| 7. UTSA | 73 |
| 8. East Carolina | 71 |
| 9. Charlotte | 64 |
| 10. Memphis | 45 |
| 11. Temple | 36 |
| 12. Tulane | 26 |
| 13. UAB | 23 |
American Conference Preseason Player of the Year
Jill Hanson, So., MB, Tulsa
American Preseason All-Conference
Angeles Alderete, 5th, OH, East Carolina
Taryn Gilreath, Jr., S, East Carolina
Olivia Hart, Jr., OH, Florida Atlantic
Amanda Hardt, Sr., OH/RS, Memphis
Loredana Fouonji, 5th, MB, UNT
Kaia Mateo, Sr., S, Rice
Aaliyah Smith, So., OH, Rice
Arissa Smith, Sr., MB, Rice
Laila Ivey, Sr., OH, South Florida
Christiana Greene, Jr., OH, Temple
Avery Burks, Sr., OH, Tulane
Jill Hanson, So., MB, Tulsa
Olivia Vance, Sr., OH, Tulsa
Jordan Heatherly, Sr., S, Wichita State
Fans can purchase single-match tickets here or through the UNT Ticket Office. For more information about UNT Volleyball tickets, contact the Mean Green Ticket Office at 940-565-2527 or email ticketoffice@unt.edu. Fans can visit the UNT Athletics Ticket Office located at Gate 2 of DATCU Stadium between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Players Mentioned
MB
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