Courtesy of WKU Athletics
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Conference USA released its volleyball preseason team for the 2024 season with senior outside hitter Kaylee Cox named the Preseason Player of the Year. Setter Callie Bauer
and redshirt sophomore opposite hitter Kenadee Coyle also earned spots on the team, while the league’s head coaches picked WKU to win the conference, as well.
The Hilltoppers have won 17 of a possible 20 Conference USA titles since joining the league in 2014 and are coming off a season in which they went 30-5 overall and swept the regular season and tournament titles.
Cox finished the 2023 season totaling 392 kills on the season (3.29 per set), landing her second on the team and fourth in CUSA. At the net, she totaled 60 blocks, including 16 solos and 44 total assists.
After helping WKU to its fifth-straight NCAA Second Round appearance, Cox collected several accolades including CUSA First Team All-Conference, CUSA All-Tournament team, and AVCA All-Region.
Cox wasn’t alone, however, as Coyle finished the season with a career-best 227 total kills off a .327 hitting clip. She also finished with 71 blocks on the season.
Bauer rounded out the list for the Hilltoppers after a 2023 performance that featured a team-high 1,246 assists that also ranked her inside the top 20 nationally. In addition, she picked up 136 kills, 27 service aces, and 186 digs on the season.
2024 CUSA Volleyball Preseason Team
Preseason Player of the Year: Kaylee Cox, WKU
Pos. Name, School Year Hometown
OH Manu Johnsen, Kennesaw State Jr. Copenhagen, Denmark
OH Kamryn Bacus, Liberty Sr. Edmond, Okla.
MB Madison Blane, Liberty Sr. Montgomery, Texas
OH Adri Rhoda, MTSU Jr. Hutchinson, Minn.
OH Yasso Amin, NM State Gr. Cairo, Egypt
OH/OPP Mari Sharp, NM State Gr. Albuquerque, N.M.
L Darian Markham, NM State Gr. McKinney, Texas
OPP Ryleigh Whitekettle, NM State R-Jr. Topsail Beach, N.C.
MB Danika Washington, UTEP Sr. Fort Worth, Texas
MB Kaya Weaver, UTEP Jr. Galt, Calif.
S Callie Bauer, WKU Gr. Hudson, Mich.
OH Kaylee Cox, WKU Sr. Flower Mound, Texas
OPP Kenadee Coyle, WKU R-So. Bloomington, Ind.
Predicted Order of Finish
Rank School (first-place votes) Total
1. WKU (8) 80
2. NM State (2) 72
3. UTEP 66
4. Liberty 50
5. Middle Tennessee 48
6. FIU 40
7. Kennesaw State 39
8. Jacksonville State 28
9. Louisiana Tech 15
10. Sam Houston 12
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