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Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Hart Earns American Preseason All-Conference Honors
8/19/2026 1:50:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic volleyball junior outside hitter Olivia Hart was named to the American Preseason All-Conference Team, and the Owls were selected fifth in the American Preseason Coaches Poll, as announced by the league office on Wednesday.
The Owls enter their fourth season in the American after finishing 19-11 in 2025, marking the third best season under head coach Fernanda Nelson.
Hart was the Owls' offensive leader during the 2025 season. The American Second Team All-Conference honoree competed in all 106 sets and played in and started all 30 matches for the Owls. Hart led the Owls in kills (385), kills per set (3.63), service aces (41) and service aces per set (0.39), and finished second for the Owls in digs (301) and digs per set (4.18). She also led the team in double-doubles, posting 12 matches with 10+ kills and digs in 2025.
Hart tallied a career-best 19 kills at UCF (Sept. 13) and tied that career high during the opening round of the American Tournament vs. Tulsa (Nov. 21). She also recorded a career best in digs and service aces, tallying 21 digs and five service aces in the Owls' five-set win over Brown (Sept. 12). Hart was named an American Weekly Honorable Mention honoree on Oct. 27.
Florida Atlantic was selected fifth in the American Preseason Coaches Poll, receiving 106 points. Rice was picked atop the poll, garnering 144 points and 12 first-place votes. Reigning American Tournament champion Tulsa was selected to finish second with 120 points and received the final first-place vote. South Florida slotted in third with 117 points and Wichita State earned the fourth-place spot with 111 points, just five points ahead of FAU.
North Texas followed Florida Atlantic in sixth with 78 points, UTSA sits at seventh with 73 points, followed by East Carolina in eighth with 71 points, Charlotte in ninth with 64 points, and Memphis in 10th with 45 points.
Temple, Tulane and UAB closed out the poll in the final three spots at 11th, 12th and 13th, receiving 36, 26 and 23 points, respectively.
The Owls will kick off the 2026 season on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 28-29, as they host the Florida Atlantic Invitational at Abessinio Court at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena, welcoming Merrimack, Stetson and FIU.
American Conference Volleyball Preseason Player of the Year
Jill Hanson, So., MB, Tulsa
American Conference Volleyball 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, North Texas
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
American Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
Note: First-place votes denoted in parentheses
FOLLOW THE OWLS
To stay up to date with everything Florida Atlantic volleyball, follow @FAUVolleyball on X and Instagram, or like FAU Volleyball on Facebook.
The Owls enter their fourth season in the American after finishing 19-11 in 2025, marking the third best season under head coach Fernanda Nelson.
Hart was the Owls' offensive leader during the 2025 season. The American Second Team All-Conference honoree competed in all 106 sets and played in and started all 30 matches for the Owls. Hart led the Owls in kills (385), kills per set (3.63), service aces (41) and service aces per set (0.39), and finished second for the Owls in digs (301) and digs per set (4.18). She also led the team in double-doubles, posting 12 matches with 10+ kills and digs in 2025.
Hart tallied a career-best 19 kills at UCF (Sept. 13) and tied that career high during the opening round of the American Tournament vs. Tulsa (Nov. 21). She also recorded a career best in digs and service aces, tallying 21 digs and five service aces in the Owls' five-set win over Brown (Sept. 12). Hart was named an American Weekly Honorable Mention honoree on Oct. 27.
Florida Atlantic was selected fifth in the American Preseason Coaches Poll, receiving 106 points. Rice was picked atop the poll, garnering 144 points and 12 first-place votes. Reigning American Tournament champion Tulsa was selected to finish second with 120 points and received the final first-place vote. South Florida slotted in third with 117 points and Wichita State earned the fourth-place spot with 111 points, just five points ahead of FAU.
North Texas followed Florida Atlantic in sixth with 78 points, UTSA sits at seventh with 73 points, followed by East Carolina in eighth with 71 points, Charlotte in ninth with 64 points, and Memphis in 10th with 45 points.
Temple, Tulane and UAB closed out the poll in the final three spots at 11th, 12th and 13th, receiving 36, 26 and 23 points, respectively.
The Owls will kick off the 2026 season on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 28-29, as they host the Florida Atlantic Invitational at Abessinio Court at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena, welcoming Merrimack, Stetson and FIU.
American Conference Volleyball Preseason Player of the Year
Jill Hanson, So., MB, Tulsa
American Conference Volleyball 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, North Texas
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
American Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
| 1 | Rice (12) | 144 |
| 2 | Tulsa (1) | 120 |
| 3 | South Florida | 117 |
| 4 | Wichita State | 111 |
| 5 | Florida Atlantic | 106 |
| 6 | North Texas | 78 |
| 7 | UTSA | 73 |
| 8 | East Carolina | 71 |
| 9 | Charlotte | 64 |
| 10 | Memphis | 45 |
| 11 | Temple | 36 |
| 12 | Tulane | 26 |
| 13 | UAB | 23 |
Note: First-place votes denoted in parentheses
FOLLOW THE OWLS
To stay up to date with everything Florida Atlantic volleyball, follow @FAUVolleyball on X and Instagram, or like FAU Volleyball on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
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