MIAMI, Fla. (August 16, 2022) – The 2022 Volleyball season is upon us, here is a list of players to keep your eye out for from each team. This year there are three players listed as middle blockers, two as outside hitters, two as liberos, one setter, and one opposite hitter. Play is set to begin on Thursday, August 17, with all teams playing at least one match this weekend.
?Ave Maria
Madelyn Haut
Senior | Monroe, Michigan | Middle Blocker
Haut has been one of the best middle blockers in the southeast in her first three years at AMU. The Michigan native has been a First Team All-Sun Conference selection in each of her three years as a Gyrene and was an Honorable Mention All-American in 2020. Her .382 attack percentage ranked fifth in the nation, and her 96 total blocks were third most in a single season in school history.
?Coastal Georgia
Paula Perez Rosales
Freshman | Las Palmas, Spain | Outside Hitter
Perez Rosales has really impressed the coaches in preseason workouts with her ability to play both at the net and on the backline. A vocal leader and wants to get better every rep.
?Florida Memorial
Agustina Busque
Senior | Montevideo, Uruguay | Setter
Busque is one of the team leaders on the court and has achieved academic honors every year with at least a 3.5 GPA.
?Keiser
Cassie Cox
Junior | Round Rock, Texas | Middle Blocker
A three-time First-Team All-Sun Conference selection, Cox appeared in all 39 matches for the Seahawks, finishing the regular season ranked No. 3 in the league in overall hitting (.351). She led the team in total kills (339) and was the team leader in blocks per set in Sun Conference action (0.46).
?Southeastern
Holly Kaczmarek
Sophomore | Woodridge, Ill. | Libero
A Second-Team All-Sun Conference selection as a freshman, Kaczmarek was among the national leaders in digs per set at 5.1. She also added 19 aces from the service line and 106 assists.
?St. Thomas
Bianca Grassi
Sophomore | Livorno, Italy | Libero
Grassi was the SUN 2021 Libero of the Year and First-Team All-SUN member while adding seven-time SUN Libero of the Week to her resume in her freshman season. Bianca comes back for year two more adapted and experienced.
?Warner
Gwen Simpson
Senior | Cocoa, Fla. | Middle Blocker/Outside Hitter
Simpson is one of those engaging dynamic and competitive players. She learns quickly and her application is sound.
?
?Webber International
Bailey Sikkema
Junior | Bradenton, Fla. | Opposite Hitter
Sikkema is a great leader on and off the court. Last year, Sikkema was the Warriors’ top scorer and has returned even stronger after completing an amazing beach season. She has a winning attitude that has carried over to the rest of the team.
The 2022 Sun Conference Volleyball Championship will begin with quarterfinal action on November 8 at campus sites (higher seed hosting). The semifinals (November 11) and finals (November 12) will be hosted by the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament.
ABOUT THE SUN CONFERENCE
Now entering its 33rd year, The Sun Conference, a 501c3 organization, continues to be one of the most successful intercollegiate athletic conferences in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Under the guidance of Commissioner Dustin Wilke, the league sponsors championships in 20 NAIA sports: Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Football, Flag Football, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Field, Women's Lacrosse, Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Softball, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field and Women’s Volleyball. Learn more at thesunconference.com
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