TicketsCINCINNATI - The American Athletic Conference preseason awards and poll were released today with the University of Cincinnati volleyball team once again featuring prominently as the Bearcats were selected second in the coaches' poll while Jordan Thompson was selected as the American Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year for the second year in a row. Thompson, the reigning AAC Player of the Year, was one of three Bearcats also selected to the preseason all-conference team as she was joined by Jade Tingelhoff and Carly Nolan.
Heading into the season, the league's coaches are preparing for what looks to be a close race atop the table as newcomer Wichita State was picked first having garnered seven first place votes and 116 points while the Bearcats collected the remaining five first-place votes and 113 points. Temple was third with 101 points and SMU, the 2016 champion, fourth with 90.
"It is nice to be seen by our peers as having a strong team that will hopefully have some success this fall," Head Coach Molly Alvey said. "I think it is a compliment that they see the things we are doing within the program and see the players we are recruiting and feel like we will have a strong roster this year. It is a snap shot of how we feel each program will be, but, when it comes down to it, every team conference has the ability to do some great things this fall. Beyond that, we take the compliment and then we have to grind as if we have something to earn every single time we step on the courts. It is always a battle, no matter who we play in conference, everyone is always a battle and has their particular strengths. We will move forward like we have something to prove and have a target on our back and we will work hard to be as successful as we can in each match."
As the Bearcats move forward to battle for the top spot and a return to the NCAA Tournament, they will be led by Thompson who, in just two years with the program, has put up impressive numbers and collected several pieces of hardware, too. The unanimously selected 2016 postseason and 2017 preseason AAC Player of the Year, Thompson collected her 1,000th kill last season on her way to also being named as an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention to become just the eighth All-American in program history and only the third to accomplish the feat as a sophomore.
"It is definitely a testament to Jordan's skill and ability on the court and how she performs each match," Alvey said. "I think Jordan has done some fantastic things in most the matches she has played so her level of consistency, as far as skill and ability, the value she brings to our team, the situation or the pressure she can bring to opponents; I think they recognize those things with her and, additionally, I think she is a very positive competitor. That is the other thing about her; she is a good competitor, good sportsmanship from her and a good teammate and this award is definitely a compliment to her that she has been recognized as being that player."
For the second year in a row, Thompson and Nolan both had their names placed on the preseason all-conference team with Tingelhoff, the 2016 AAC Setter of the Year, joining them on the list in 2017. The three honors marks the most for the program in the five years in the league, bettering the two earned last year. All three are no stranger to the all-conference lists as each was placed on the postseason ledger following the 2016 season.
"The success of last year definitely helps present us well heading into this season," Alvey said. "We always talk as a program that everything you do at any given moment, regardless of previous success and previous failure, is determined at that moment. It is a great honor and a great compliment to receive those honors, but nothing has been earned for this season. We have to earn every single point we get. We have to earn every single victory we get. Nothing will be handed to us because last year was a successful season. I think the team understands that; we talk about it enough. Certainly being recognized feels good, but it is a new season and everyone is 0-0 now."
That new season gets underway August 25 and 26 with a trio of matches at the Bluegrass Battle hosted by Kentucky in Lexington. UC will face #23 Utah at 1 p.m. and the Arkansas State at 6 p.m. on Friday, August 25, before playing against the host Wildcats at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, August 26.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all of the latest information on Cincinnati volleyball, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up to the minute updates, follow Cincinnati Volleyball (@GoBearcatsVB) and Coach Alvey (@CoachAlveyUC) on Twitter. You can also find the #Bearcats on Facebook (GoBearcatsVB) and Instagram (GoBearcatsVB).
2017 American Athletic Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Wichita State - 116 (7)
2. CINCINNATI - 113 (5)
3. Temple - 101
4. SMU - 90
5. UCF - 82
6. USF - 62
7. UConn - 60
8. Tulane - 55
9. Tulsa - 45
10. Memphis - 31
11. East Carolina - 25
12. Houston - 12
Preseason Awards
Jordan Thompson - Preseason Player of the Year*, Preseason All-Conference
Jade Tingelhoff - Preseason All-Conference*
Carly Nolan - Preseason All-Conference
*unanimous
Heading into the season, the league's coaches are preparing for what looks to be a close race atop the table as newcomer Wichita State was picked first having garnered seven first place votes and 116 points while the Bearcats collected the remaining five first-place votes and 113 points. Temple was third with 101 points and SMU, the 2016 champion, fourth with 90.
"It is nice to be seen by our peers as having a strong team that will hopefully have some success this fall," Head Coach Molly Alvey said. "I think it is a compliment that they see the things we are doing within the program and see the players we are recruiting and feel like we will have a strong roster this year. It is a snap shot of how we feel each program will be, but, when it comes down to it, every team conference has the ability to do some great things this fall. Beyond that, we take the compliment and then we have to grind as if we have something to earn every single time we step on the courts. It is always a battle, no matter who we play in conference, everyone is always a battle and has their particular strengths. We will move forward like we have something to prove and have a target on our back and we will work hard to be as successful as we can in each match."
As the Bearcats move forward to battle for the top spot and a return to the NCAA Tournament, they will be led by Thompson who, in just two years with the program, has put up impressive numbers and collected several pieces of hardware, too. The unanimously selected 2016 postseason and 2017 preseason AAC Player of the Year, Thompson collected her 1,000th kill last season on her way to also being named as an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention to become just the eighth All-American in program history and only the third to accomplish the feat as a sophomore.
"It is definitely a testament to Jordan's skill and ability on the court and how she performs each match," Alvey said. "I think Jordan has done some fantastic things in most the matches she has played so her level of consistency, as far as skill and ability, the value she brings to our team, the situation or the pressure she can bring to opponents; I think they recognize those things with her and, additionally, I think she is a very positive competitor. That is the other thing about her; she is a good competitor, good sportsmanship from her and a good teammate and this award is definitely a compliment to her that she has been recognized as being that player."
For the second year in a row, Thompson and Nolan both had their names placed on the preseason all-conference team with Tingelhoff, the 2016 AAC Setter of the Year, joining them on the list in 2017. The three honors marks the most for the program in the five years in the league, bettering the two earned last year. All three are no stranger to the all-conference lists as each was placed on the postseason ledger following the 2016 season.
"The success of last year definitely helps present us well heading into this season," Alvey said. "We always talk as a program that everything you do at any given moment, regardless of previous success and previous failure, is determined at that moment. It is a great honor and a great compliment to receive those honors, but nothing has been earned for this season. We have to earn every single point we get. We have to earn every single victory we get. Nothing will be handed to us because last year was a successful season. I think the team understands that; we talk about it enough. Certainly being recognized feels good, but it is a new season and everyone is 0-0 now."
That new season gets underway August 25 and 26 with a trio of matches at the Bluegrass Battle hosted by Kentucky in Lexington. UC will face #23 Utah at 1 p.m. and the Arkansas State at 6 p.m. on Friday, August 25, before playing against the host Wildcats at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, August 26.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all of the latest information on Cincinnati volleyball, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up to the minute updates, follow Cincinnati Volleyball (@GoBearcatsVB) and Coach Alvey (@CoachAlveyUC) on Twitter. You can also find the #Bearcats on Facebook (GoBearcatsVB) and Instagram (GoBearcatsVB).
2017 American Athletic Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Wichita State - 116 (7)
2. CINCINNATI - 113 (5)
3. Temple - 101
4. SMU - 90
5. UCF - 82
6. USF - 62
7. UConn - 60
8. Tulane - 55
9. Tulsa - 45
10. Memphis - 31
11. East Carolina - 25
12. Houston - 12
Preseason Awards
Jordan Thompson - Preseason Player of the Year*, Preseason All-Conference
Jade Tingelhoff - Preseason All-Conference*
Carly Nolan - Preseason All-Conference
*unanimous