Georgia Southern middle Baylor Bumford has been named Preseason All-Sun Belt, and the Eagles are picked third in the East Division in the league's Preseason Coaches Poll, announced today.
One of two Eagles to play in all 107 sets last season, Bumford ranked second in the Sun Belt in hitting percentage (.365) en route to earning first-team all-conference honors. The fifth-year player ranked second on the team with 2.40 kills per set and led the Eagles with 99 blocks. She reached double figures in kills in 11 contests, including a career-high 19 vs. Georgia State Oct. 9, which she matched against UTA in the Sun Belt Tournament.
The Eagles garnered 67 points and a first-place vote in the poll. Coastal Carolina and Sun Belt newcomer James Madison are tied atop the East Division with 90 points, and the Chanticleers collected seven first-place votes, one more than the Dukes. Defending champion South Alabama is picked to win the West Division with 92 points and eight first-place votes.
Georgia Southern finished the 2021 campaign with a 17-11 record, the most wins for the program since the 2013 season, and their nine Sun Belt victories were the most since joining the league in 2014. GS returns 15 letterwinners and welcomes newcomers Kirsten Barrett, Callaway Cason, Emily Jarome, Maggie Sale and Grace Underwood to the 2022 roster.
Georgia Southern will play a Blue vs. White scrimmage in Hanner Fieldhouse Saturday, Aug. 20, at 1 p.m. The Eagles are slated to open the 2022 season by hosting the Bash in the Boro Aug. 26-27, in Hanner.
Season tickets for the Eagles' 14 home matches can be purchased for $50, and single-game tickets are on sale for $8 for adults and $5 for youth ages 4-12. All seats are general admission.
2022 Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Janell Fitzgerald, Texas State (OH, 6-1, Gr., Mansfield, Texas)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Niki Capizzi, South Alabama (MB, 6-3, Jr., Huntington Beach, Calif.)
Preseason Setter of the Year
Emily DeWalt, Texas State (S, 5-10, Gr., Helotes, Texas)
Preseason Libero of the Year
Rachel Hickey, South Alabama (L, 5-4, Sr., Mishawaka, Ind.)
Preseason All-Sun Belt
Emily DeWalt, Texas State (S, 5-10, Gr., Helotes, Texas)
Janell Fitzgerald, Texas State (OH, 6-1, Gr., Mansfield, Texas)
Julia Brooks, Troy (MB, 6-1, Jr., St. Louis, Mo.)
Kailey Keeble, South Alabama (S, 5-8, Jr., Maryville, Tenn.)
Kelsey Bennett, Louisiana (OH, 6-0, Sr., Allen, Texas)
Jada Gardner, Texas State (OH, 6-1, Gr., Cibolo, Texas)
Miëtte Veldman, James Madison (OH, 5-10, Jr., Daleville, Va.)
Sophia Davis, James Madison (MB, 6-1, Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Baylor Bumford, Georgia Southern (MB, 5-11, Gr., Winter Garden, Fla.)
Coco Gillett, Louisiana (OH, 5-10, So., Bryan, Texas)
Macey Putt, Arkansas State (OH, 6-0, Gr., Ozark, Mo.)
Niki Capizzi, South Alabama (MB, 6-3, Jr., Huntington Beach, Calif.)
Maddie Soboleski, South Alabama (S, 6-0, R-Jr., Erie, Pa.)
* Ties were not broken
2022 Sun Belt Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
East Division
Coastal Carolina – 90 (7)
James Madison – 90 (6)
Georgia Southern – 67 (1)
Marshall – 49
Old Dominion – 39
Georgia State – 31
App State – 26
West Division
South Alabama – 92 (8)
Texas State – 88 (5)
Troy – 63
Louisiana – 61 (1)
Arkansas State – 39
Southern Miss – 31
ULM – 18
Original source can be found here.
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