DALLAS – Conference USA unveiled its preseason honors for the 2023 season of beach volleyball, as voted by the league’s six head coaches. Twelve players representing five schools make up the 2023 Preseason All-Conference team, highlighted by Preseason Player of the Year
Adriana Pereira of UAB.
2023 Conference USA Preseason All-Conference Team
Giada Bianchi, Jr., FIU
Roberta Ribeiro, Gr., FIU
Ellie Austin, Sr., Florida Atlantic
Julie Honzovicova, So., Florida Atlantic
Courtney Moon, Sr., Florida Atlantic
Marketa Svozilova, So., Florida Atlantic
Kylee Quigley, Sr., Jacksonville State
Mollie Ebertin, Gr., Tulane
Samantha Mehlman, Sr., Tulane
Kendall Peters, Sr., Tulane
Maddie Speicher, Jr., Tulane
Adriana Pereira, Jr., UAB
2023 C-USA Preseason Player of the Year
Adriana Pereira, Jr., UAB
Pereira earned first team All-Conference USA honors last season and set the single season UAB record for court 1 wins (20), and the school record for most single season wins as a duo. Bianchi, Ribeiro, Svozilova and Moon are returning C-USA first team performers, while Honzovicova was the league’s Freshman of the Year in 2022.
The league serves up its second season with opening matches this weekend featuring (16) FIU, (12) Florida Atlantic and UAB, along with new members Jacksonville State and (ARV) Tulane. UTEP rounds out the league teams in its first year of beach volleyball. The 2023 C-USA Championship is on April 27-29 at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park, Fla.
Giada Bianchi, FIU: An AVCA second team All-American last season, Bianchi recorded 24 wins on court 1. She also earned AVCA Flight One honors and was named to the C-USA All-Conference first team.
Roberta Ribeiro, FIU: A member of the 2022 C-USA Preseason All-Conference team, Ribeiro posted 16 wins last season, playing on courts 2, 3 and 4.
Ellie Austin, Florida Atlantic: Austin posted a 20-9 record last season pairing with Honzovicova and playing on court 3 for the Owls. She earned 2022 C-USA October Pair of the Month last fall.
Julie Honzovicova, Florida Atlantic: Named 2022 C-USA Freshman of the Year and to the 2022 All-Conference-USA Freshman Team. She posted a 20-9 record last season pairing with Austin and playing on court 3 for the Owls.
Courtney Moon, Florida Atlantic: Moon was named an 2022 All-Conference-USA first team pair. She finished with a 21-9 overall record last season pairing with Svozilova and playing on court 2 for the Owls.
Marketa Svozilova, Florida Atlantic: Svozilova earned 2022 All-Conference-USA first team pair honors along with being named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team. She finished with a 21-9 overall record pairing with Moon on court 2 for the Owls.
Kylee Quigley, Jacksonville State: Quigley played on court 1 for JSU in all 27 matches, tallying eight wins and finishing third on the team in wins last season.
Mollie Ebertin, Tulane: Ebertin played four season seasons at the University of Southern California, helping lead the Women of Troy to the 2022 NCAA Beach Volleyball National Championship. She paired with Peters as the league’s top finisher at the AVCA Fall Championship.
Samantha Mehlman, Tulane: An AVCA Top Flight Award winner, she helped lead Tulane to 24 wins in 2022, primarily playing on court 2.
Kendall Peters, Tulane: Peters competed in the top pair in every tournament last season, recording 21 wins with partner Speicher. She was also named to the CCSA All-Tournament team. She paired with Ebertin as the league’s top finisher at the AVCA Fall Championship.
Maddie Speicher, Tulane: Speicher competed in the top pair in every tournament last season, recording 21 wins with partner Peters. She was also named to the CCSA All-Tournament team.
Adriana Pereira, UAB: Pereira earned first team All-Conference USA honors in 2002. She posted 20 wins on court 1 last season, while setting the single season school record for court 1 wins and the school record for most single season wins as a duo.
-ConferenceUSA.com-