Troy University Athletics
Tori Hester Named to Preseason All-Sun Belt; Troy Slated Third in West
8/15/2023 1:00:00 PM | Volleyball
TROY, Ala. – Tuesday afternoon, the Sun Belt Conference announced outside hitter Tori Hester earned Preseason All-Sun Belt Team. Troy has been slated to finished third in the West division.
"It's a great honor," head coach Josh Lauer said. "I think Tori's earned a lot of respect in the conference. It has shown that she's one of our conference's better six-rotation outside hitters. I'm excited for her; she has been working hard and looking forward to another great season."
This is the first time Hester will be receiving back-to-back Sun Belt accolades after finishing the 2022 season as a member of the All-Sun Belt First Team for the first time in her career.
Hester started all 31 matches and played in 122 sets. She led the Trojans' offense last year with 522 kills averaging 4.28 kills per set. She ranked second in the conference in kills as well as ending her season ranked 15th in the country for total kills.
The Trojans have been selected to finish third in the Sun Belt West Division, receiving the fourth most votes by the league's 12 head coaches.
"The Sun Belt is going to be competitive this year," Lauer said. "We don't take anything for granted. We know we are going to have to earn everything that we get this year. There are some good teams that we are looking forward to getting out on the court and competing with."
Troy kicks off its season on the road at the Louisville Cardinal Classic on August 25, where the Trojans will face Louisville, Wright State and Washington State.
2023 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Volleyball Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Miëtte Veldman, James Madison (OH, 5-10, Sr., Daleville, Va.)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Sophie Davis, James Madison (MB, 6-1, Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Preseason Setter of the Year:
Kailey Keeble, South Alabama (S, 5-8, Sr., Maryville, Tenn.)
Preseason Libero of the Year:
Megan Harris, Southern Miss (L, 5-4, Jr., Nesbit, Miss.)
Preseason All-Sun Belt
McCall Denny, App State (OH, 5-9, Sr., High Point, N.C.)
Maya Winterhoff, App State (MB, 6-2, So., Charlottesville, Va.)
Sophie Davis, James Madison (MB, 6-1, Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Caroline Dozier, James Madison (S, 6-0, Sr., Raleigh, N.C.)
Miëtte Veldman, James Madison (OH, 5-10, Sr., Daleville, Va.)
Myah Conway, Old Dominion (RS, 6-3, Jr., Orwigsburg, Pa.)
Niki Capizzi, South Alabama (MB, 6-3, Sr., Huntington Beach, Calif.)
Kailey Keeble, South Alabama (S, 5-8, Sr., Maryville, Tenn.)
Hannah Maddux, South Alabama (OH, 6-2, Sr., San Antonio, Texas)
Cara Atkinson, Southern Miss (MB, 6-2, Jr., Gardendale, Ala.)
Mia Wesley, Southern Miss (OH, 5-11, Jr., Orem, Utah)
Tori Hester, Troy (OH, 5-9, Jr., Salisbury, N.C.)
2023 Sun Belt Preseason Volleyball Coaches Poll
East Division
1. James Madison – 94 (13)
2. App State – 70 (1)
3. Coastal Carolina – 69
4. Georgia Southern – 55
5. Old Dominion – 54
6. Marshall – 29
7. Georgia State - 21
West Division
1. South Alabama - 93 (10)
2. Texas State - 77 (3)
3. Troy - 71
4. Southern Miss - 51
5. Louisiana - 47
6. Arkansas State - 37 (1)
7. ULM – 16
"It's a great honor," head coach Josh Lauer said. "I think Tori's earned a lot of respect in the conference. It has shown that she's one of our conference's better six-rotation outside hitters. I'm excited for her; she has been working hard and looking forward to another great season."
This is the first time Hester will be receiving back-to-back Sun Belt accolades after finishing the 2022 season as a member of the All-Sun Belt First Team for the first time in her career.
Hester started all 31 matches and played in 122 sets. She led the Trojans' offense last year with 522 kills averaging 4.28 kills per set. She ranked second in the conference in kills as well as ending her season ranked 15th in the country for total kills.
That's our girl 👀#BuildTheEmpire | #OneTROY ⚔️🏐 pic.twitter.com/GJQrubnfsV
— Troy Volleyball (@TroyTrojansVB) August 15, 2023
The Trojans have been selected to finish third in the Sun Belt West Division, receiving the fourth most votes by the league's 12 head coaches.
"The Sun Belt is going to be competitive this year," Lauer said. "We don't take anything for granted. We know we are going to have to earn everything that we get this year. There are some good teams that we are looking forward to getting out on the court and competing with."
Troy kicks off its season on the road at the Louisville Cardinal Classic on August 25, where the Trojans will face Louisville, Wright State and Washington State.
Let's prove them wrong #BuildTheEmpire | #OneTROY ⚔️🏐 pic.twitter.com/KtMF7qZ1ep
— Troy Volleyball (@TroyTrojansVB) August 15, 2023
2023 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Volleyball Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Miëtte Veldman, James Madison (OH, 5-10, Sr., Daleville, Va.)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Sophie Davis, James Madison (MB, 6-1, Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Preseason Setter of the Year:
Kailey Keeble, South Alabama (S, 5-8, Sr., Maryville, Tenn.)
Preseason Libero of the Year:
Megan Harris, Southern Miss (L, 5-4, Jr., Nesbit, Miss.)
Preseason All-Sun Belt
McCall Denny, App State (OH, 5-9, Sr., High Point, N.C.)
Maya Winterhoff, App State (MB, 6-2, So., Charlottesville, Va.)
Sophie Davis, James Madison (MB, 6-1, Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Caroline Dozier, James Madison (S, 6-0, Sr., Raleigh, N.C.)
Miëtte Veldman, James Madison (OH, 5-10, Sr., Daleville, Va.)
Myah Conway, Old Dominion (RS, 6-3, Jr., Orwigsburg, Pa.)
Niki Capizzi, South Alabama (MB, 6-3, Sr., Huntington Beach, Calif.)
Kailey Keeble, South Alabama (S, 5-8, Sr., Maryville, Tenn.)
Hannah Maddux, South Alabama (OH, 6-2, Sr., San Antonio, Texas)
Cara Atkinson, Southern Miss (MB, 6-2, Jr., Gardendale, Ala.)
Mia Wesley, Southern Miss (OH, 5-11, Jr., Orem, Utah)
Tori Hester, Troy (OH, 5-9, Jr., Salisbury, N.C.)
2023 Sun Belt Preseason Volleyball Coaches Poll
East Division
1. James Madison – 94 (13)
2. App State – 70 (1)
3. Coastal Carolina – 69
4. Georgia Southern – 55
5. Old Dominion – 54
6. Marshall – 29
7. Georgia State - 21
West Division
1. South Alabama - 93 (10)
2. Texas State - 77 (3)
3. Troy - 71
4. Southern Miss - 51
5. Louisiana - 47
6. Arkansas State - 37 (1)
7. ULM – 16
Players Mentioned
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