Emma Burke named to 2024 Preseason All-WAC Team, Tarleton State Volleyball slated 5th in preseason coaches poll

STEPHENVILLE, Texas - Tarleton State Volleyball's received 2024 Preseason All-WAC honors as the Western Athletic Conference announced the results of preseason recognitions and the coaches poll on Friday.

Burke, a junior, earned a spot amongst eight other WAC student-athletes on the Preseason All-WAC Team. The middle blocker for the Texans was the lone representative for Tarleton State.

Since arriving in the 'Ville, the Godley, Texas, native has made her mark on Tarleton State Volleyball, receiving several honors and leading the conference and her team in multiple categories. At the end of the 2023 regular season, Burke was named All-WAC Second Team after she led the conference with a .402 hitting percentage, and tallied 123 total blocks, third most in the WAC. Burke also achieved new career-highs in total blocks in a single game (9), kills in a single game (15), points in a single game (18), and service aces in a single game (6). The middle blocker completed eight matches with double-digit kills and 19 matches with double-digit points.

The Purple and White were picked to finish fifth out of nine teams. This is the highest preseason coaches poll ranking the Texans have received since being voted to finish third out of six in the Southwest Division of the WAC in 2021.

Grand Canyon received the first-place spot in the coaches poll while UT Arlington claimed second place and Utah Valley secured third.

Tatum Parrott from Grand Canyon was named the 2024 WAC Preseason Player of the Year, UT Arlington's Mollie Blank was voted WAC Preseason Setter of the Year, and
Utah Valley's Lani Matavao took the WAC Preseason Libero of the Year honor.

Tarleton State Volleyball has a total of 29 regular season matches on the slate with a scrimmage against Texas Tech to open up the season's action on Friday. Out of nine teams in the WAC, eight will earn a spot in the 2024 WAC Volleyball Tournament set to take place in Arlington, Texas, Nov. 21-23.

The Coaches Poll and Preseason All-WAC honors can be found below:

2024 WAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Grand Canyon - 60 points (4)
2. UT Arlington - 59 points (5)
3. Utah Valley - 50 points
4. California Baptist - 41 points
5. Tarleton State - 35 points
6. Abilene Christian - 31 points
7. Utah Tech - 22 points
8. Southern Utah - 17 points
9. Seattle U - 9 points
2024 WAC Preseason Player of the Year: Tatum Parrott, Grand Canyon
2024 WAC Preseason Setter of the Year: Mollie Blank, UT Arlington
2024 WAC Preseason Libero of the Year: Lani Matavao, Utah Valley
2024 Preseason All-WAC Team
Nicole Mauser, OPP, California Baptist
Ashley Lifgren, OH, Grand Canyon
Tatum Parrott, OH, Grand Canyon
Trista Strasser, MB, Grand Canyon
Arianna Bilby, OH/RS, Seattle U
, MB, Tarleton State
Brianna Ford, OH, UT Arlington
Paige Reagor, MB, UT Arlington
Avery Shewell, OH, Utah Valley

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