Temple University Athletics
The Owls landed four on the American Preseason Team in Sydlik, Peric, Overton, and Davis
Volleyball Lands Four on Preseason American Squad; Owls Picked to Finish Third
8.17.15 | Women's Volleyball
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Temple volleyball team was well represented on the American Athletic Conference preseason team, with the Owls grabbing a league-best four selections to the squad. Additionally, Temple was picked to finish third in the American, as voted on by the conference coaches.
Defending champion UCF was picked atop the preseason poll with 94 points and seven first-place votes. SMU and Temple, who tied for second last season, followed in second and third place. SMU garnered 91 total points with three first-place votes, while the Owls had 84 points with one first-place vote. Tulsa (75) and Cincinnati (56) rounded out the pre-season top-five.
Senior Sandra Sydlik, juniors Kirsten Overton and Tyler Davis, and sophomore Dara Peric all garnered preseason All-Conference honors for the Owls. Sydlik is the defending American Athletic Conference Setter of the Year. Last season, she racking up 10.94 assists per set and led the Owls to a .242 team hitting percentage. In addition to a first-team All-Conference nod, she was named an honorable mention All-Region selection by the AVCA.
Peric is the returning American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, after finishing third on the Owls with 2.62 kills per set and second dwith 3.18 digs per set. In conference play, her averages rose to 2.85 kills and 3.54 digs per set, ranking her as the American's top freshman in both categories.
Overton and Davis return after garnering All-Conference honors in 2014. Overton led the Owls with a .394 hitting percentage in 2014, while also racking up a team-best 103 blocks from the middle. Davis also had a break-out sophomore season, recording a team-best 318 kills, playing on both the right and the outside for Temple.
The 2015 Temple volleyball season begins on August 28 when the Owls host the Crowne Plaza Philadelphia West Temple Invitational. The tournament features Temple, Oregon, Navy, and St. John's, with the Owls opening play with a 6:00 p.m. match against Oregon on Friday, August 28.
Preseason poll: (First-place votes
Team Points
1. UCF (7) 94
2. SMU (3) 91
3. Temple (1) 84
4. Tulsa 75
5. Cincinnati 56
6. Memphis 51
7. USF 48
8. UConn 41
9. East Carolina 22
Tulane 22
11. Houston 21
Preseason Player of the Year: Avery Acker, SMU
Preseason Team:
Kia Bright, UCF*
Jale Hervey, UCF*
Emma Roberson, Cincinnati*
Immanuella Anagu, UConn
Avery Acker, SMU
Janelle Giordano, SMU
Morgan Heise, SMU
Tyler Davis, Temple
Kirsten Overton, Temple
Dara Peric, Temple
Sandra Sydlik, Temple
Erica Bohannon, Tulsa*
(Unanimous selections denoted with an asterisk)
Defending champion UCF was picked atop the preseason poll with 94 points and seven first-place votes. SMU and Temple, who tied for second last season, followed in second and third place. SMU garnered 91 total points with three first-place votes, while the Owls had 84 points with one first-place vote. Tulsa (75) and Cincinnati (56) rounded out the pre-season top-five.
Senior Sandra Sydlik, juniors Kirsten Overton and Tyler Davis, and sophomore Dara Peric all garnered preseason All-Conference honors for the Owls. Sydlik is the defending American Athletic Conference Setter of the Year. Last season, she racking up 10.94 assists per set and led the Owls to a .242 team hitting percentage. In addition to a first-team All-Conference nod, she was named an honorable mention All-Region selection by the AVCA.
Peric is the returning American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, after finishing third on the Owls with 2.62 kills per set and second dwith 3.18 digs per set. In conference play, her averages rose to 2.85 kills and 3.54 digs per set, ranking her as the American's top freshman in both categories.
Overton and Davis return after garnering All-Conference honors in 2014. Overton led the Owls with a .394 hitting percentage in 2014, while also racking up a team-best 103 blocks from the middle. Davis also had a break-out sophomore season, recording a team-best 318 kills, playing on both the right and the outside for Temple.
The 2015 Temple volleyball season begins on August 28 when the Owls host the Crowne Plaza Philadelphia West Temple Invitational. The tournament features Temple, Oregon, Navy, and St. John's, with the Owls opening play with a 6:00 p.m. match against Oregon on Friday, August 28.
Preseason poll: (First-place votes
Team Points
1. UCF (7) 94
2. SMU (3) 91
3. Temple (1) 84
4. Tulsa 75
5. Cincinnati 56
6. Memphis 51
7. USF 48
8. UConn 41
9. East Carolina 22
Tulane 22
11. Houston 21
Preseason Player of the Year: Avery Acker, SMU
Preseason Team:
Kia Bright, UCF*
Jale Hervey, UCF*
Emma Roberson, Cincinnati*
Immanuella Anagu, UConn
Avery Acker, SMU
Janelle Giordano, SMU
Morgan Heise, SMU
Tyler Davis, Temple
Kirsten Overton, Temple
Dara Peric, Temple
Sandra Sydlik, Temple
Erica Bohannon, Tulsa*
(Unanimous selections denoted with an asterisk)
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
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