8/19/2025 | Women’s Volleyball
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic Volleyball senior setter Victoria Hensley was named to the 2025 American Preseason All-Conference Team, announced by the league office on Tuesday.
The Owls were also selected to finish fifth in the American Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Florida Atlantic will enter its third season in the American following a phenomenal 2024 campaign that saw the Owls have an 18+ win season and finish second in the American, securing their first conference championship appearance since 2005.
Hensley earns her first preseason honor after a career-best season in 2024 and continues to shine as one of the most prolific setters in FAU history.
Heading into 2025, Hensley ranks sixth in program history in career assists with 2,365. Last season, the 2024 American Second Team All-Conference honoree led the Owls and the American with 1,258 assists, ranking third all-time in a single season in program history and 15th in the NCAA. She is also a huge back row presence for the Owls, ranking third on the team in digs (237) and digs per set (2.24). She also ranked second on the team in double-doubles last season, tallying 12 double-doubles with assists and digs. Hensley set numerous career highs in 2024. She dished out a career-best 59 assists during FAU’s four-set win over Northern Arizona on Sept. 7 and tied a career-high four blocks, including a career-best four block assists, during the Owls’ three-set sweep over Rice on Oct. 18.
Selected fifth in the American Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the Owls received 100 points. Rice was picked atop the poll, garnering 141 points and nine first-place votes. South Florida, last year’s American regular-season champion, was selected to finish second with 136 points and four first-place votes. Wichita State, last year’s American Tournament champion, slotted in third with 120 points, and East Carolina earned the fourth-place spot with 106 points, just six points ahead of FAU.
Tulsa followed Florida Atlantic in sixth with 91 points, UAB sits at seventh with 63 points, followed by Tulane in eighth with 62 points, UTSA in ninth with 46 points, and Temple in 10th with 43 points.
Charlotte and North Texas tied for 11th, garnering 39 points each, and Memphis rounds out the poll in 13th, receiving 28 points.
The Owls will close out preseason play this weekend, hosting Miami Dade on Saturday, Aug. 23, first serve set for 6 p.m. Florida Atlantic will officially kick off the 2025 season on Aug. 29-30 as they host the Florida Atlantic Invitational at the Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena, welcoming Kent State, Texas Tech, and Western Carolina.
American Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Rice (9) 141
South Florida (4) 136
Wichita State 120
East Carolina 106
Florida Atlantic 100
Tulsa 91
UAB 63
Tulane 62
UTSA 46
Temple 43
Charlotte 39
North Texas 39
Memphis 28
(#) denotes first-place votes
Preseason Player of the Year
Maria Clara Andrade, Sr., OH, South Florida
Preseason All-Conference Team
Jorda Crook, Jr., OPP, UAB*
Kristen Birmingham, Charlotte
Kai Bailey, Jr., MB, East Carolina
Taryn Gilreath, So., S, East Carolina
Ellie Pate, Jr., OH, East Carolina
Victoria Hensley, Sr., S, Florida Atlantic
Ryann Vik, So., MB, North Texas
Lademi Ogunlana, Sr., MB, Rice
Taylor Preston, Sr., OH, Rice
Savannah Skopal, So., S, Rice
Cindy Tchouangwa, Jr., OH, Rice
Ally Cavanaugh, R-So., OH, South Florida
Maria Clara Andrade, Sr., OH, South Florida*
Avery Burks, Jr., OH, Tulane
Brayden Hipp, Sr., S, Tulsa
Brooklyn Leggett, R-Sr., RS/OH, Wichita State
* denotes unanimous selection
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