IRVING, Texas., August 26, 2024 – The University of South Florida volleyball team was picked third in the 2024 American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, with one first-place vote. Setter Caroline Dykes (Flower Mound, Texas) and outside hitter Maria Clara Andrade (Sao Paulo, Brazil) earned a spot on the All-Conference Preseason Team.
 
The Bulls are coming off an AAC East Division title and a 22-12 record. South Florida returns eight while welcoming 10 newcomers. 
 
Dykes earned a spot on the All-Conference Second Team last season. She led the Bulls with 1,174 assists, her first 1,000+ assist season. Dykes, who appeared in all 34 matches last season, set a career-high of 60 assists against St. Johns. She had six matches where she had 50+ assists.
 
Andrade returns as the Bull's leading scorer, averaging 4.27 points per set. Last season, she finished with a total of 451 kills. Andrade was named to the NIVC All-Tournament Team, AAC All-Conference First Team, and the Bulls Invitational All-Tournament Team. Andrade was the first All-Conference First Team selection for South Florida since 2020.
 
The Bulls will open the 2024 regular season this weekend at the FSU Invitational. On Friday, South Florida will open with hosts No. 20 Florida State at 6 p.m. They will continue the tournament with No. 25 Georgia on Saturday and close the weekend with UC Santa Barbara.
 
Preseason Coaches Poll
1          Rice (8)
2          Wichita State (4)
3          South Florida (1)
4          East Carolina
5          Florida Atlantic
6          North Texas
7          UTSA
8          Temple
9          Memphis
10        Tulsa
11        Charlotte
12        Tulane
13        UAB
 
Offensive Player of the Year
Angeles Alderete, Jr., OH, East Carolina
 
Preseason All-Conference Team
Lara Kretchmer, Gr., MB, Charlotte
Angeles Alderete, Jr., OH, East Carolina*
Valeria Rosado, Sr., OH/RS, Florida Atlantic*
Aryn Johnson, Sr., OH, North Texas
Nia McCardell, 5th, L/DS, Rice
Maria Clara Andrade, Jr., OH, South Florida
Caroline Dykes, Sr., S, South Florida
Taylor Davenport, Gr., OH, Temple
Mia Sorensen, Jr., OPP, UTSA*
Avery Burks, So., OH, Tulane
Morgan Stout, R-Sr., MB, Wichita State*
Izzi Strand, 5th, S, Wichita State*
 
*denotes unanimous selection
 
 
About USF Volleyball
Head coach Jolene Shepardson enters her fifth season at the helm of her alma mater in 2024. Named head coach on Jan. 8, 2020, Shepardson led the Bulls' program to its last conference championship and NCAA tournament appearance as a student-athlete in 2002. Earning the AAC East Division title in 2023, South Florida made a postseason appearance in the NIVC, winning three games and advancing to the Fab Four to mark the longest postseason run in program history. South Florida Volleyball has made seven NCAA Tournament appearances and won 12 conference titles since its inception in 1972. The Bulls play in The Corral (1,000), located adjacent to the Yuengling Center on the USF campus.
 
Be sure to follow USF women's volleyball on social media (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information.