Trojans Picked Third, Barbosa Receives Preseason Honors

NEW ORLEANS – Little Rock's Carol Barbosa was recognized Tuesday when the Sun Belt Conference released its 2019 Preseason All-Conference Volleyball Team while the Trojans were picked to finish third in the West Division.
 
Barbosa claims the preseason accolade after receiving second team all-conference honors last year, hitting .357 – a mark that ranks third in school history for a single season – while averaging 2.30 kills per set and 0.91 blocks per set. A native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, her 99 total blocks last year ranked second on the team.
 
For the Trojans, the third-place projection comes a year after Little Rock finished second in the West and advanced to the postseason for the first time since 2014.
 
The Sun Belt's 2019 season gets underway Friday, Aug. 30 with all 12 teams in action. The 2019 Sun Belt Women's Volleyball Championship, hosted by Texas State, is set for Nov. 21-24 at Strahan Arena at the University Events Center in San Marcos, Texas.
 
Little Rock Volleyball reports and begins practice later this week. The Trojans' 2019 season will start in Fayetteville when the Trojans will play three matches at the Arkansas Classic starting with Montana State on Friday, Aug. 30 at 10 a.m. before facing the host Razorbacks at 7 p.m.
 
Season tickets for the 2019 Little Rock Volleyball schedule are currently on sale by contacting the Trojan Ticket Office at (501) 565-8257.  General admission season tickets are $40 while fans can also take advantage of the $99 Flex Pack that includes 20 ticket vouchers good for any home match during the regular season.
 
 
2019 SUN BELT CONFERENCE WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL & HONORS
Preseason Coaches' Poll
First-place votes in parentheses
 
East Division
1. Coastal Carolina (7) - 67
2. Appalachian State (5) - 65
3. Troy - 41
4. South Alabama - 30
5. Georgia State - 25
6. Georgia Southern - 24
 
West Division
1. Texas State (12) - 72
2. UTA - 55
3. Little Rock - 39
4. Arkansas State - 37
5. Louisiana - 35
6. ULM - 12
 
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
Emma Longley, Appalachian State (Sr., OH, Raleigh, N.C.)¹
Emma Reilly, Appalachian State (Jr., L/DS, Evergreen Park, Ill.)²
Kara Spicer, Appalachian State (Jr., MB, Peoria, Ariz.) ²
Carol Barbosa, Little Rock (Sr., MH, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) ²
Kyla Manning, Coastal Carolina (Jr., OH, Atlanta, Ga.) ¹
Anett Nemeth, Coastal Carolina (So., OH, Pecel, Hungary) ¹
Hali Wisnoskie, Louisiana (Jr., OH, Columbus, Texas) ²
Kelley Hartman, South Alabama (Sr., MB, Woodstock, Ga.) ²
Madison Hill, UTA (Sr., MB/OH, Rockwall, Texas) ¹
Emily DeWalt, Texas State (So., S, Helotes, Texas) ¹*
Micah Dinwiddie, Texas State (Sr., DS, Lewisville, Texas)**
Janell Fitzgerald, Texas State (So., OH, Mansfield, Texas) ¹
Cheyenne Huskey, Texas State (Sr., OH/S, Columbus, Texas) ¹
 
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Cheyenne Huskey, Texas State (Sr., OH/S, Columbus, Texas) ¹
 
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Micah Dinwiddie, Texas State (Sr., DS, Lewisville, Texas)**
 
Preseason Setter of the Year
Emily DeWalt, Texas State (So., S, Helotes, Texas) ¹*
 
¹2018 First Team All-Sun Belt selection
²2018 Second Team All-Sun Belt selection
*2018 Sun Belt Setter and Freshman of the Year
**2018 Sun Belt Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and 2017 Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year
 
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