Troy University Athletics
Julia Brooks Named Preseason All-Sun Belt; Troy Tabbed Third in West Division
8/16/2022 1:00:00 PM | Volleyball
TROY, Ala. – The Sun Belt Conference announced Tuesday that Trojan middle hitter Julia Brooks has been named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team.
This is the first preseason honor for Brooks, who finished the 2021 season named to the All-Sun Belt first team.
"Julia is a selfless team leader," head coach Josh Lauer said. "She works hard to bring her best and bring out the best in her teammates every day, both on and off the court. This is well deserved, and I'm thankful to the other Sun Belt coaches for recognizing Julia as one of the elite players in our conference."
The junior from St. Louis, Mo., was one of four Trojans to start all 31 matches and play in all 113 sets. In addition, she was the only player in the conference to be ranked in the top 10 in four statistical categories (hitting percent, kills/set, blocks/set & points/set). She returns to lead the Trojan offense after finishing with 353 kills and 3.12 kills per set last season.
Along with her offensive capability, Brooks currently ranks fourth in the program, with 62 solo blocks, only needing 23 to become the all-time leader at Troy. Her 235 total blocks rank seventh as well.
The Trojans have also been picked to finish third in the Sun Belt West Division in a vote of the league's 12 head coaches and tallied the fourth-most points overall in the conference voting.
Troy is set to kick off its season on August 26 against Georgia in the Classic City Clash in Athens, where they will also face off against Santa Clara and Chattanooga.
2022 Sun Belt Preseason Volleyball Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Janell Fitzgerald, Texas State
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Niki Capizzi, South Alabama
Preseason Setter of the Year: Emily DeWalt, Texas State
Preseason Libero of the Year: Rachel Hickey, South Alabama
Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference
Emily DeWalt, Texas State
Janell Fitzgerald, Texas State
Julia Brooks, Troy
Kailey Keeble, South Alabama
Kelsey Bennett, Louisiana
Jada Gardner, Texas State
Miette Veldman, James Madison
Sophia Davis, James Madison
Baylor Bumford, Georgia Southern
Coco Gillett, Louisiana
Macey Putt, Arkansas State
Niki Capizzi, South Alabama
Maddie Soboleski, South Alabama
2022 Sun Belt Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
East Division
Coastal Carolina – 90 (7)
James Madison – 90 (6)
Georgia Southern – 67 (1)
Marshall – 49
Old Dominion – 39
Georgia State – 31
App State – 26
West Division
South Alabama – 92 (8)
Texas State – 88 (5)
Troy – 63
Louisiana – 61 (1)
Arkansas State – 39
Southern Miss – 31
ULM - 18
This is the first preseason honor for Brooks, who finished the 2021 season named to the All-Sun Belt first team.
"Julia is a selfless team leader," head coach Josh Lauer said. "She works hard to bring her best and bring out the best in her teammates every day, both on and off the court. This is well deserved, and I'm thankful to the other Sun Belt coaches for recognizing Julia as one of the elite players in our conference."
The junior from St. Louis, Mo., was one of four Trojans to start all 31 matches and play in all 113 sets. In addition, she was the only player in the conference to be ranked in the top 10 in four statistical categories (hitting percent, kills/set, blocks/set & points/set). She returns to lead the Trojan offense after finishing with 353 kills and 3.12 kills per set last season.
Along with her offensive capability, Brooks currently ranks fourth in the program, with 62 solo blocks, only needing 23 to become the all-time leader at Troy. Her 235 total blocks rank seventh as well.
The Trojans have also been picked to finish third in the Sun Belt West Division in a vote of the league's 12 head coaches and tallied the fourth-most points overall in the conference voting.
Troy is set to kick off its season on August 26 against Georgia in the Classic City Clash in Athens, where they will also face off against Santa Clara and Chattanooga.
2022 Sun Belt Preseason Volleyball Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Janell Fitzgerald, Texas State
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Niki Capizzi, South Alabama
Preseason Setter of the Year: Emily DeWalt, Texas State
Preseason Libero of the Year: Rachel Hickey, South Alabama
Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference
Emily DeWalt, Texas State
Janell Fitzgerald, Texas State
Julia Brooks, Troy
Kailey Keeble, South Alabama
Kelsey Bennett, Louisiana
Jada Gardner, Texas State
Miette Veldman, James Madison
Sophia Davis, James Madison
Baylor Bumford, Georgia Southern
Coco Gillett, Louisiana
Macey Putt, Arkansas State
Niki Capizzi, South Alabama
Maddie Soboleski, South Alabama
2022 Sun Belt Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
East Division
Coastal Carolina – 90 (7)
James Madison – 90 (6)
Georgia Southern – 67 (1)
Marshall – 49
Old Dominion – 39
Georgia State – 31
App State – 26
West Division
South Alabama – 92 (8)
Texas State – 88 (5)
Troy – 63
Louisiana – 61 (1)
Arkansas State – 39
Southern Miss – 31
ULM - 18
Players Mentioned
Middle Hitter
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