Southland announces Preseason All-Conference Volleyball Teams

HBU leads the way with four total selections

FRISCO, Texas – Packed with returning talent, the Southland Conference announced its preseason all-conference volleyball teams on Wednesday. The preseason all-conference teams are presented by Hercules Tires.

All 14 members of the squads are returning all-conference players from last season, including Player and Setter of the Year Faith Panhans (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi), Freshman of the Year Cicily Hidalgo (Southeastern), Newcomer of the Year Symone Wesley (Northwestern State) and Libero of the Year Carissa Barnes (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi).

Panhans posted a league-high 11.21 assists per set to repeat as the conference’s Setter of the Year, and Barnes retained her Libero of the Year title with a Division I-best 6.52 digs per set.

Hidalgo made an immediate impact for the Lady Lions, ranking first in the league in kills per set (3.88) and points (223). A Houston transfer, Wesley recorded 317 points, 299 digs and 285 kills in her first season with the Lady Demons.

HBU led the way with four total selections as the Huskies place a pair each on the first and second teams. Defending regular-season and conference tournament champion Texas A&M-Corpus Christi earns a league-best three first-team nods as Panhans and Barnes are joined by teammate Kyndal Payne.

McNeese, Northwestern State and Southeastern garner a pair of honorees each, and New Orleans rounds out the lists with first-teamer Sheilah Purcell.

The season begins Friday, Aug. 26 with all ten squads in action, and conference play opens Thursday, Sept. 22. The 2022 Southland Conference Volleyball Tournament will be held Nov. 17-20 in Hammond, La.

2022 Southland Volleyball Preseason All-Conference First Team                                                                                                  

2022 Southland Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Second Team