ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Big Ten Conference announced its 2024 volleyball preseason honors and preseason poll on Thursday, ahead of the third-annual Volleyball Media Days on August 5-6 at Big Ten Network Studios in Chicago.
Nebraska, the reigning Big Ten Champion and National Runner-Up, received 13 first-place votes to secure the top spot in the preseason poll.
Eleven schools were represented among the 18 student-athletes receiving preseason recognition.
Three members of the preseason all-conference team were unanimous selections: Nebraska’s Merritt Beason and Lexi Rodriguez and Penn State’s Jess Mruzik. Rodriguez was named the 2023 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Beason and Mruzik each earned unanimous First Team All-Conference recognition in 2023. The preseason team also features AVCA National Player of the Year and Big Ten Player of the Year, Sarah Franklin, Big Ten Setter of the Year, Bergen Reilly and Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Harper Murray.
The preseason all-conference team also features three players from three of the four institutions that will be playing their first season in the Big Ten. Oregon’s Mimi Colyer, UCLA’s Anna Dodson and USC’s Mia Tuaniga each earned preseason recognition.
The preseason poll and all-conference teams were voted on by the conference’s 18 head coaches. Six members of the preseason all-conference team are scheduled to attend Big Ten Volleyball Media Days next week.
The complete list of Big Ten volleyball preseason honors is as follows:
2024 BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL
- Nebraska
- Wisconsin
- Penn State
- Purdue
- Minnesota
- Oregon
- USC
- UCLA
- Ohio State
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Michigan State
- Washington
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Northwestern
- Rutgers
- Iowa
2024 BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Raina Terry, Gr., OH, Illinois
Camryn Haworth, Sr., S, Indiana
Melani Shaffmaster, RS-Sr., S, Minnesota
MERRITT BEASON, Sr., OPP, Nebraska
Taylor Landfair, Sr., OH, Nebraska
Harper Murray, So., OH, Nebraska
Bergen Reilly, So., S, Nebraska
LEXI RODRIGUEZ, Sr., L, Nebraska
Emily Londot, Gr., OH/OPP, Ohio State
Mimi Colyer, Jr., OH, Oregon
JESS MRUZIK, Gr., OH, Penn State
Chloe Chicoine, So., OH, Purdue
Eva Hudson, Jr., OH, Purdue
Anna Dodson, Gr., MB, UCLA
Mia Tuaniga, Sr., S, USC
Carter Booth, Jr., MB, Wisconsin
Sarah Franklin, Sr., OH, Wisconsin
Anna Smrek, Sr., MB/OPP, Wisconsin
Unanimous selection listed in ALL CAPS
