Marshall University Athletics
Ally Kiekover Named to Preseason All-Conference USA Team
8/1/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Marshall senior middle blocker Ally Kiekover has been named to the 2016 Preseason All-Conference USA Volleyball Team, the league announced Monday.
The annual list recognizes the conference's top 12 players, including the Preseason Player of the Year. As a team, the Thundering Herd was picked eighth in the 13-team Preseason Poll as selected by C-USA coaches.
"I'm confident in our 2016 team," Herd coach Mitch Jacobs said. "This could be the deepest and strongest Conference USA has ever been. And I'm expecting the Herd to be right in the mix this year."
Kiekover was an All-Conference USA first team selection last season and earned a spot on the C-USA All-Academic team with a 3.75 GPA as a biological science major. As a junior, Kiekover led the conference with a .402 hitting percentage and paced the Herd with 74 blocks. Her .402 hitting efficiency ranks second all-time in a single season at Marshall, while for a career she sits at third all-time with a .316 hitting percentage. The Grand Rapids, Mich., native was second on the team in kills with 320.
The Herd looks to build on a 16-14 season that ended in the 2015 C-USA Tournament first round at the hands of the eventual champion and top seeded WKU. The Thundering Herd returns 11 letterwinners and welcomes seven newcomers.
Marshall begins the 2016 season at the Hoosier Invitational in Bloomington, Ind. The Herd opens the tournament against Evansville on Friday, Aug. 26, while facing Northern Kentucky and the host school Indiana University on Saturday.
Below is the complete list of C-USA preseason accolades:
2016 Volleyball Preseason All-Conference USA Team
Maja RistiÃ"‡ - Florida Atlantic - OH - Sr.
Ally Kiekover - Marshall - MB - Sr.
Chelsey Harris - Rice - S - Sr.
Madison McDaniel - Rice - S - Jr.
Leah Mikesky - Rice - OH - Sr.
Portia Okafor - Rice - MB - Jr.
Stephany Purdue - Southern Miss - OH - Sr.
Gabby Deshotel - UAB - OH - Sr.
Dajana Boskovic - UTSA - OH - Sr.
Marijeta Runjic - UTSA - OH - Jr.
Alyssa Cavanaugh - WKU - OH - Jr.
*Jessica Lucas - WKU - S - Jr.
* - C-USA Preseason Player of the Year
2016 Conference USA Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. WKU
2. UTSA
3. Rice
4. Southern Miss
5. Florida Atlantic
6. North Texas
7. FIU
8. Marshall
9. Charlotte
10. Middle Tennessee
11. UTEP
12. UAB
13. Louisiana Tech
