IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference has announced the volleyball award winners and all-conference teams for the 2024 season ahead of the 2024 American Volleyball Championship, to be held November 22-24 at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas. The selections were made by the league’s 13 head coaches who were not allowed to vote for their own players.
South Florida, the No. 1 seed for the American Championship, earned three awards, including junior outside hitter Maria Clara Andrade, who was named The American Player of the Year. Senior setter Caroline Dykes was unanimously voted as The American Setter of the Year, while Bulls head coach Jolene Shepardson was named The American Coach of the Year.
Tulsa senior libero Marta Pecalli was named The American Libero of the Year, while Temple outside hitter Sydney Jones was selected as The American Freshman of the Year.
A total of 20 players from nine member institutions earned American all-conference awards, as South Florida led the way with four total honorees (three on the first team), while Rice added three selections. Andrade and Pecalli were both unanimous selections to the all-conference team.
Seven players were selected to the All-Freshman team, with Temple leading all teams with two honorees. Memphis middle blocker Tiffany Snook, Rice setter Savannah Skopal and Temple outside hitter Sydney Jones were all unanimous selections.
Andrade becomes the second Bull to earn Player of the Year, joining Erin Fairs (2013). In conference play, Andrade led The American in kills per set (4.68) and points per set (5.23). She finished with double-digit kills in all 16 conference matches.
Dykes becomes the first Bull to be named Setter of the Year and becomes the second unanimously selected Setter of the Year (Emily Hiebert – 2017). Dykes led The American in assists per set in conference action (10.98) and helped lead the Bulls to a .256 team attack percentage.
This is the third time a Golden Hurricane has won Libero of the Year, as Pecalli joins Taylor Horsfall (2017, 2019). Pecalli led the league in digs, averaging 5.07 digs per set in conference play. She had double-digit digs in all 16 conference matches, including seven matches with over 20 digs.
Jones becomes the second Freshman of the Year recipient for Temple, joining Dara Peric (2014). Jones finished 5th in The American in kills per set with 3.63, while finished 6th in scoring with 4.04 points per set. She posted double-digit kills in 11 conference matches.
Shepardson earns her first American Coach of the Year honor and the first for South Florida after leading the Bulls to its first outright regular season American Athletic Conference Championship and earning the No. 1 seed in the upcoming conference tournament. The Bulls led the league in points (18.28 per set), assists (13.65 per set) and service aces (2.28 per set), while finishing second in kills (14.33 per set) and hitting percentage (.256).
2024 American Athletic Conference Women’s Volleyball Regular-Season Awards
Player of the Year
Maria Clara Andrade, Jr., OH, South Florida
Libero of the Year
Marta Pecalli, Sr., Tulsa
Setter of the Year
Caroline Dykes, Sr., South Florida*
Freshman of the Year
Sydney Jones, OH, Temple
Coach of the Year
Jolene Shepardson, South Florida
First Team All-Conference
Jorda Crook, So., OPP, UAB
Fran McBride, Gr., RS, East Carolina
Samarah Hill, Gr., OH, Rice
Lademi Ogunlana, Jr., MB, Rice
Maria Clara Andrade, Jr., OH, South Florida*
Caroline Dykes, Sr., S, South Florida
Naiya Sawtelle, Gr., OH, South Florida
Taylor Davenport, Gr., OH, Temple
Tytiana Johnson, Sr., MB, Tulsa
Marta Pecalli, Sr., L, Tulsa*
Morgan Stout, R-Sr., MB, Wichita State
Izzi Strand, 5th, S, Wichita State
Second Team All-Conference
Angeles Alderete, Jr., OH, East Carolina
Victoria Hensley, Jr., S, Florida Atlantic
Katelynn Robine, Sr., OH/RS, Florida Atlantic
Hannah Jones, So., OH, Memphis
Savannah Skopal, Fr., S, Rice
Lia Schneider, So., L, South Florida
Sydney Jones, Fr., OH, Temple
Mia Soerensen, Jr., OPP, UTSA
All-Freshman Team
Abby Jones, OH, UAB
Taryn Gilreath, S, East Carolina
Tiffany Snook, MB, Memphis*
Ryann Vik, MB, North Texas
Savannah Skopal, S, Rice*
Christiana Greene, OH, Temple
Sydney Jones, OH, Temple*
*denotes unanimous selection
