TXST VOLLEYBALL
Texas State was selected 1st in the Sun Belt Preseason Poll in the West Division in a unanimous vote.
The Bobcats received all 14 votes from the members of the Sun Belt Conference. In the east division, James Madison was selected to win with eight votes followed by Coastal Carolina with six votes.
Texas State returns the majority of their lineup from last season that finished with a 20-10 record. The Bobcats fell in the Sun Belt Conference semifinals but were selected to play in the NCAA Tournament as an At-Large bid for the first time in program history. Texas State fell to SMU in the opening of the NCAA Tournament held at Gregory Gym in Austin.
In addition to being named the favorite in the west division, the Bobcats had multiple players be named to the preseason all-conference team.
Junior middle blocker Jade Defraeye was named preseason Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year. Defraeye is also the reigning Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year after winning the award following the 2023 season.
Defraeye made 21 solo blocks, 112 assisted blocks and 28 digs for the Bobcats last season.
Defraeye also was named to the preseason all-conference team along with libero Alyssa Ortega, setter Ryann Torres and outside hitter Samantha Wunsch. The Bobcats led the conference with four preseason all-conference selections.
Ortega made 440 digs at the libero position for the Bobcats last season. Torres made 813 assists, 47 kills and 47 total blocks at the setter position. Wunsch made 339 kills at the outside hitter position.
Texas State will play an intersquad scrimmage Monday night at 6:30 p.m. The Bobcats will play Lamar in a scrimmage Saturday at 3 p.m.
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Texas State was the unanimous favorite to win the Sun Belt West Division following the release of the preseason polls. Four Bobcat volleyball players were named to the Preseason All Conference team which is the most on the conference. Daily Record photo by Gerald Castillo
