BOCA RATON, Fla. – Erica Brok and Mackenzie Morris, who are entering their fifth year as partners on the No. 12/13 Florida Atlantic University beach volleyball team, have earned spots on the 10-person inaugural Conference USA Preseason Team, as announced by the league Friday. Brok has also been named C-USA Preseason Player of the Year.
“What a great honor for Mack [Morris] and Erica [Brok] to be selected on the inaugural C-USA Preseason beach team! Their impact at FAU has been immense and we are excited to see it being recognized by the conference,” said head coach Capri Grotowski.
Brok and Morris hold the school record for most career wins by a pair with 71, while coming off the 2021 season having achieved an 18-5 record as partners. The two were chosen as AVCA First Team All-Americans and CCSA All-Conference honorees. Brok and Morris earned their second AVCA Top Flight award after winning over 75% of their matches and their performance at the 2021 CCSA Championships with winning four of their five matches played a big role in FAU winning its first ever conference championship. The pair is also the Owls’ first ever AVCA and CCSA Pair of the Week following a 4-0 weekend at the FAU Beach Bash last season, which included a win over the top pair from No. 1 Florida State.
The C-USA Preseason Player of the Year in Brok holds the individual school record in career wins with 72. Brok, an Ormand Beach, Florida native, also stands second in career winning percentage (.735) and holds a 72-26 record going into her fifth season at FAU.
“I am so happy for Erica to be named Preseason Player of the Year! She is a wonderful teammate, captain and player,” said Grotowski. “Despite her success, she continues to push herself and people around her to be better. Players like Erica are rare and we are very proud to have her as an Owl!”
Morris is the school record holder in individual winning percentage with a .747 mark, while also following Brok in career individual wins with 71. The Jacksonville, Florida product has a 71-24 record going into her final season.
FAU begins the 2022 season at the Florida State Beach Bash in Tallahassee tomorrow. The Owls’ first match is against No. 6 TCU at 10:30 a.m. followed by a 3:30 p.m. match versus Southern Miss. For complete coverage of FAU beach volleyball, follow us on Twitter (@FAUBeachVB), Instagram (@faubeachvb) and Facebook (FAU Beach Volleyball).
2022 C-USA Beach Volleyball Preseason Team
Julia Blazek (Jr.), ULM
*Erica Brok (Gr.), Florida Atlantic
Maddy Delmonte (Sr.), Georgia State
Irena Drobnjak (Jr.), Coastal Carolina
Eden Hawes (5th), Georgia State
Paige Kalkhoff (So.), FIU
Martine Kragholm (R-Jr.), Coastal Carolina
Mackenzie Morris (Gr.), Florida Atlantic
Roberta Ribeiro (Sr.), FIU
Rachel Tam (R-Sr.), UAB
* Preseason Player of the Year
