NEW ORLEANS – University of South Alabama volleyball middle blocker Kelley Hartman was named 2018 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference, as announced by the league office Monday.
Hartman was the lone Jaguar to be voted to the team, which was selected via a vote by the conference's head coaches. She was a 2017 First-Team All-SBC selection after leading the league in blocks per set (1.29), which ranked 36th nationally, while also finishing tied for second in hitting percentage (.321). In SBC matches, Hartman finished tied for second in blocks per set (1.15), ranked third in hitting percentage (.367) and fourth in service aces per set (0.26).
Hartman also earned an All-Southeast honorable mention from the American Volleyball Coaches Association last season. She recorded 124 total blocks, which ranks sixth on the Jaguar single-season record list. Hartman led South Alabama in kills (245), kills per set (2.55), hitting percentage (.319), solo blocks (35), block assists (89), total blocks (124) and blocks per set (1.29).
Arkansas State's Carlissa May was named the SBC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year,Texas State's Micah Dunwiddie was selected as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and ASU's Ellie Watkins was picked as the SBC Preseason Setter of the Year.
The SBC Coaches' Preseason Poll was also released on Monday. South Alabama, which received four first-place votes, was picked to finish second in the SBC East Division behind Coastal Carolina. Texas State was picked to win the SBC West Division with 10 of 12 first-place votes.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with USAJaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at Twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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2018 Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Coaches' Preseason All-Conference Team
*Carlissa May, Arkansas State (Sr., OH, Lee's Summit, Mo.)
**Ellie Watkins, Arkansas State (Sr., S, Weldon Spring, Mo.)
Kyla Manning, Coastal Carolina (So., OH, Atlanta, Ga.)
*Lauren Reichard, Georgia Southern (Sr., MH, Wrightsville, Pa.)
*Dree'Ana Abram, Louisiana (Jr., MB, Marshall, Texas)
*Hali Wisnoskie, Louisiana (So., OH, Columbus, Texas)
*Kelley Hartman, South Alabama (Jr., MB, Woodstock, Ga.)
**Zhanelle Geathers, UTA (Jr., OH, Lindale, Texas)
*Madison Daigle, Texas State (Sr., MB, Baton Rouge, La.)
*Micah Dinwiddie, Texas State (Jr., DS, Lewisville, Texas)
*Amy Pflughaupt, Texas State (Sr., OH, El Campo, Texas)
**Megan Porter, Texas State (Sr., OH, Southlake, Texas)
*Denotes 2017 All-Sun Belt First Team | **Denotes 2017 All-Sun Belt Second Team
2018 Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Carlissa May, Arkansas State (Sr., OH, Lee's Summit, Mo.)
2018 Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Micah Dinwiddie, Texas State (Jr., DS. Lewisville, Texas)
2018 Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Setter of the Year
Ellie Watkins, Arkansas State (Sr., S, Weldon Spring, Mo.)
2018 Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Poll (first-place votes in parentheses)
East Division
Rank Team Points
1. Coastal Carolina (8) 67
2. South Alabama (4) 63
3. Appalachian State 44
4. Troy 37
5. Georgia State 22
6. Georgia Southern 19
West Division
Rank Team Points
1. Texas State (10) 70
2. Arkansas State (1) 58
3. Louisiana (1) 51
4. UTA 32
5. Little Rock 27
6. ULM 14
