8-23-2024 4:46am

TU VOLLEYBALL

Women’s Volleyball Preseason Favorites, Barrett Named Preseason Player of the Year

The Towson University women's volleyball team has been projected to finish atop the Coastal Athletic Association among the league's head coaches for the fourth consecutive season, announced Tuesday morning by the conference office.

The Tigers finished with five first-place votes, totaling 111 points. Delaware (107) and Charleston (101) each received three first-place votes, while Campbell (96) received one. Stony Brook collected 82 points for fifth place. Northeastern (68) in sixth and Hofstra (67) in seventh were separated by one point. UNCW (53), William & Mary (40), Elon (31), North Carolina A&T (25) and Hampton (11) rounded out the group

Outside hitter Victoria Barrett was named the CAA Preseason Player of the Year after collecting All-CAA first-team honors in 2023. She finished fourth in the league in kills/set last season at 3.34 and added 4.00 points/set. The senior notched double-digit kills in 20 of 30 matches and posted five double-doubles. Her 354 total kills last season marked a career-high.

Middle blocker Erin Brothers and defensive specialist/libero Sydney Stewart each garnered All-CAA honorable mention recognition.

Brothers finished the 2023 campaign ranked fourth in the CAA in blocks/set, averaging 0.99. Her 92 total blocks stood ninth in the league. The junior averaged 1.34 kills/set a year ago.

Stewart's 4.22 digs/set average finished third in the CAA, and her total of 388 was sixth-most in the conference last year. The Pennsylvania native notched double-digit dig totals in 24 of 28 matches played.

Towson kicks off the 2024 season vs. Saint Francis on Aug. 30 at 2 p.m. The Tigers also host Duquesne, Lehigh and Morgan State that weekend in the Towson-Morgan State Invite.

TU finished 24-6 last season.