BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic volleyball was selected to finish fifth in the American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, and senior outside hitter
Valeria Rosado (Bayamon, Puerto Rico) was named to the AAC Preseason All-Conference Team, as announced by the league office on Monday.
The Owls enter their second season in the AAC after posting the program's seventh all-time 20-win season, finishing second in the AAC East with a 20-13 record in 2023.
Rosado is one of five AAC preseason honorees to receive unanimous selection. The honor also marks the first preseason accolade.
Rosado looks to make a huge impact in 2024 as she enters her senior season with the Owls and second season in the AAC. The AAC All-Conference Second Team honoree led FAU in double-doubles with 10 and ranked second on the team in kills (275), averaging 2.33 kills per set. Rosado received AAC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Nov. 13 and earned her first league weekly award with an honor roll nod on Oct. 2. She tallied a career-best 24 kills in the Owls' five-set victory over Wichita State on Oct. 27, and recorded career-high 22 digs against SMU on Oct. 8.
Florida Atlantic was selected fifth in the AAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 104 points. Rice was picked atop the poll, garnering 136 points and eight first-place votes. Reigning NIVC champion Wichita State was selected to finish second with 127 points and four first-place votes. South Florida slotted in third with 121 points and the final first-place vote, and East Carolina earned the fourth-place spot with 106 points, just two points ahead of the Owls.
North Texas followed Florida Atlantic in sixth with 86 points, UTSA sits at seventh with 79 points, followed by Temple in eighth with 57 points, Memphis in ninth with 56 points, and Tulsa in 10
th with 52 points.
The final three spots were picked as Charlotte, Tulane, and UAB at 11
th, 12
th, and 13
th, receiving 36, 30, and 24 points, respectively.
The Owls will kick off the 2024 season this weekend as they host the Florida Atlantic Invitational at the Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena on Friday & Saturday, Aug. 30-31, welcoming Bryant, Seton Hall, and Ball State.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
- Rice (8) 136
- Wichita State (4) 127
- South Florida (1) 121
- East Carolina 106
- Florida Atlantic 104
- North Texas 86
- UTSA 79
- Temple 57
- Memphis 56
- Tulsa 52
- Charlotte 36
- Tulane 30
- UAB 24
Offensive Player of the Year
Angeles Alderete, Jr., OH, East Carolina
Preseason All-Conference Team
Lara Kretchmer, Gr., MB, Charlotte
Angeles Alderete, Jr., OH, East Carolina*
Valeria Rosado, Sr., OH/RS, Florida Atlantic*
Aryn Johnson, Sr., OH, North Texas
Nia McCardell, 5th, L/DS, Rice
Maria Clara Andrade, Jr., OH, South Florida
Caroline Dykes, Sr., S, South Florida
Taylor Davenport, Gr., OH, Temple
Mia Sorensen, Jr., OPP, UTSA*
Avery Burks, So., OH, Tulane
Morgan Stout, R-Sr., MB, Wichita State*
Izzi Strand, 5th, S, Wichita State*
* denotes unanimous selection
For updates, follow @FAUVolleyball on
X and
Instagram, or like
FAU Volleyball on Facebook.