App State junior Maya Winterhoff was named to the 2024 Sun Belt Volleyball Preseason All-Conference team, the league announced Thursday. This is her second consecutive preseason nomination after previously earning the honor in 2023.
Winterhoff, a two-time All-SBC Second-Team selection, led the Sun Belt in hitting percentage (.383) last season and tied for third in the league in blocks, tallying 130 (28 solo, 102 assists) this season. The Charlottesville, Virginia, native, who started all 29 games last season and appeared in all 109 sets, led the Mountaineers in blocks and tied for third on the team in kills, tallying 239 this year. She also hit double-digit kill totals in seven games, including three consecutive games from Oct. 14-21. In addition, Winterhoff hit 25 aces during the 2023 season.
In two years at App State, Winterhoff has recorded 492 kills, a .379 hitting percentage and 185 blocks (47 solo, 138 assists). She has landed on five non-conference tournament teams. During the 2023 season, Winterhoff recorded 19 kills, which is her career high, and a hitting percentage of .621 on September 15 against Wake Forest. Winterhoff recorded five solo blocks, which is her career high, on August 25 against William & Mary and 11 digs, which is her career high, on October 14 against ULM.
In the SBC Preseason Volleyball Coaches Poll, App State was ranked No. 5 in the East Division with 45 votes. The Mountaineers went 14-15 last season and posted a 10-4 record at the Holmes Convocation Center. The Black and Gold opened the 2023 season with nine straight wins and earned 10 sweeps on the year.
App State fans will have a chance to get a taste of the 2024 season with an exhibition game against UNC on August 16 and the Black & Gold Scrimmage on August 23. Both events begin at 6 p.m. and are free to the public. The Mountaineers will also host Boonebalaya on August 26 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Booneshine Brewing Company.
The Mountaineers will open the 2024 season on the road at the Bobcat Invitational in Athens, Ohio, on Aug. 30-31 before playing the Mountaineer Classic (Sept. 6-7) and Black & Gold Invitational (Sept. 12-14) at the Holmes Convocation Center. App State will host eight conference games this fall. Season tickets are on sale now.
Sun Belt Conference 2024 Volleyball Preseason Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Jalyn Stout, Coastal Carolina (S, So., Gainesville, Fla.)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Jade Defraeye, Texas State (MB, Jr., Dunkirk, France)
Preseason Setter of the Year: Janelle Stuempfig, Troy (S, Jr., Sussex, Wisc.)
Preseason Libero of the Year: Mio Yamamoto, Louisiana (L, Sr., Chigasaki, Japan)
All-Conference Preseason
Maya Winterhoff, App State (MB, Jr., Charlottesville, Va.)
Jalyn Stout, Coastal Carolina (Southeast, Gainesville, Florida)
Miëtte Veldman, James Madison (OH, Gr., Daleville, Va.)
Reagan Barth, Georgia Southern (Ohio, Southern, Lenexa, Kansas)
Mio Yamamoto, Louisiana (L, Sr., Chigasaki, Japan)
Myah Conway, Old Dominion (RS, Sr., Orwigsburg, Pa.)
Jade Defraeye, Texas State (MB, Jr., Dunkirk, France)
Alyssa Ortega, Texas State (L, Sr., San Antonio, Texas)
Ryann Torres, Texas State (S, fifth year, Buda, Texas)
Samantha Wunsch, Texas State (OH, R-So., Austin, Texas)
Tori Hester, Troy (OH, Sr., Salisbury, NC)
Janelle Stuempfig, Troy (S, Jr., Sussex, Wisc.)
2024 Sun Belt Volleyball Preseason Coaches Survey
Division East
James Madison – 90 (8)
Carolina Coast – 88 (6)
Georgia South – 74
Old Dominion – 48
App Status – 45
Marshall – 31
State of Georgia – 16
Division West
Texas State – 98 (14)
Troy – 80
South Alabama – 71
Louisiana – 57
Southern Miss – 37
State of Arkansas – 35
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{Information provided by Appalachian State Athletics}
