By Katherine Jamtgaard. NEW ORLEANS —App State junior Maya Winterhoff has been named to the 2024 Sun Belt Volleyball Preseason All-Conference team, the league announced Thursday. This is her second consecutive preseason nod after earning the honor in 2023.
Winterhoff, a two-time Second-Team All-SBC selection, led the Sun Belt last season in hitting percentage (.383) and ranked third in the league for total blocks, recording 130 (28 solo, 102 assists) on the season. The Charlottesville, Va. native, who started all 29 matches and appeared in all 109 sets last season, led the Mountaineers in the blocks category and ranked third on the team in kills, slamming down 239 on the year. She also tallied double-figure kills in seven matches, including three consecutive matches from Oct. 14-21. Additionally, Winterhoff served up 25 aces during the 2023 campaign.
In two years at App State, Winterhoff has chalked up 492 career kills, a hitting percentage of .379, and 185 blocks (47 solo, 138 assists). She has landed on five non-conference tournament teams. During the 2023 campaign, Winterhoff recorded a single-match career-high 19 kills in addition to a hitting percentage of .621 against Wake Forest on Sept. 15. Winterhoff recorded a career-high five solo blocks against William & Mary on Aug. 25 and tallied a career-high 11 digs against ULM on Oct. 14.
In the SBC Preseason Volleyball Coaches Poll, App State was picked fifth in the East Division with 45 votes. The Mountaineers went 14-15 last season and posted a 10-4 record in the Holmes Convocation Center. The Black and Gold opened the 2023 campaign with nine consecutive wins and tallied 10 sweeps on the year.
App State fans will have the opportunity to get a preview of the 2024 season with an exhibition match against UNC on Aug. 16 and the Black & Gold Scrimmage on Aug. 23. Both events are set for 6 p.m. serves and are free to the public. The Mountaineers will also host Boonebalaya on Aug. 26 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Booneshine Brewing Company.
The Mountaineers will open the 2024 season on the road at the Bobcat Invitational in Athens, Ohio on Aug. 30 and 31 before opening play in the Holmes Convocation Center with the Mountaineer Classic (Sept. 6 and 7) and the Black & Gold Invitational (Sept. 12-14). App State will host eight conference matches this fall. Season tickets are on sale now.
2024 Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Preseason Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Jalyn Stout, Coastal Carolina (S, So., Gainesville, Fla.)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Jade Defraeye, Texas State (MB, Jr., Dunkirk, France)
Preseason Setter of the Year: Janelle Stuempfig, Troy (S, Jr., Sussex, Wisc.)
Preseason Libero of the Year: Mio Yamamoto, Louisiana (L, Sr., Chigasaki, Japan)
Preseason All-Conference
Maya Winterhoff, App State (MB, Jr., Charlottesville, Va.)
Jalyn Stout, Coastal Carolina (S, So., Gainesville, Fla.)
Miëtte Veldman, James Madison (OH, Gr., Daleville, Va.)
Reagan Barth, Georgia Southern (OH, So., Lenexa, Kan.)
Mio Yamamoto, Louisiana (L, Sr., Chigasaki, Japan)
Myah Conway, Old Dominion (RS, Sr., Orwigsburg, Pa.)
Jade Defraeye, Texas State (MB, Jr., Dunkirk, France)
Alyssa Ortega, Texas State (L, Sr., San Antonio, Texas)
Ryann Torres, Texas State (S, Fifth Year, Buda, Texas)
Samantha Wunsch, Texas State (OH, R-So., Austin, Texas)
Tori Hester, Troy (OH, Sr., Salisbury, N.C.)
Janelle Stuempfig, Troy (S, Jr., Sussex, Wisc.)
2024 Sun Belt Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
East Division
James Madison – 90 (8)
Coastal Carolina – 88 (6)
Georgia Southern – 74
Old Dominion – 48
App State – 45
Marshall – 31
Georgia State – 16
West Division
Texas State – 98 (14)
Troy – 80
South Alabama – 71
Louisiana – 57
Southern Miss – 37
Arkansas State – 35
ULM – 14
