compliments of www.thesunconference.com
TAMPA, Fla. – Despite boasting the reigning SUN Volleyball Player of the Year, the Florida Memorial Lions were picked to finish fifth (21 points) in the 2023 Preseason Coaches' Poll, selected by the league's head coaches.
The Bobcats of St. Thomas University have been voted to take home the Sun Conference (SUN) Indoor Volleyball Regular Season title.
St. Thomas, the defending SUN regular season and tournament champions, total 49 points in the poll and receive seven first-place votes. Keiser is selected to finish second in the standings, totaling 38 points and earning the other first-place vote. Just behind the Seahawks is Ave Maria with 37 points.
Voted to finish fourth in the league is Southeastern with 35 points. Florida Memorial is slated fifth (21 points) while Webber International tallies 18 points in the sixth spot.
Coastal Georgia and Warner complete the poll with 16 points and 10 points, respectively.
Conference play begins Wednesday, September 13 with the conference tournament to begin Tuesday, November 7. Scores for all games can be found on
The Sun Scoreboard and tune into SUN live action on
The Sun Digital Network.
| 2023 SUN CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL |
| Pos. |
Team |
Points (First Place Votes) |
2022 SUN Record |
2022 Overall Record |
| 1. |
St. Thomas |
49 (7) |
12-2 |
19-6 |
| 2. |
Keiser |
38 (1) |
10-4 |
32-8 |
| 3. |
Ave Maria |
37 |
11-3 |
19-6 |
| 4. |
Southeastern |
35 |
9-5 |
14-13 |
| 5. |
Florida Memorial |
21 |
7-7 |
10-11 |
| 6. |
Webber Int'l |
18 |
4-10 |
14-16 |
| 7. |
Coastal Georgia |
16 |
2-12 |
10-18 |
| 8. |
Warner |
10 |
1-13 |
4-21 |
See below for the 2023 Sun Conference volleyball Players to Watch.
Ave Maria
Zelie Kessler
Senior | Avon, Ohio | Outside Hitter
Kessler is the top returning hitter for the Gyrenes, who have finished in the Sun Conference's top three in each of the last three years. The senior played in all 25 matches for Ave Maria last season, racking up 224 kills. Kessler also contributed defensively with 64 digs and 27 total blocks.
Coastal Georgia
Cassidy Casey
Junior | Pearland, Texas | Middle Hitter
Casey is a transfer from St. Johns River State College where she totaled 519 kills and 136 blocks over two seasons.
Florida Memorial
Caroline Souza
Graduate Student | Parana City, Brazil | Outside Hitter
Souza is one of the most talented athletes that we have in the conference. She reigns as our SUN Player of the Year and will continue to work hard to secure a championship ring for her senior year.
Keiser
Hannah Heide
Senior | Jupiter, Fla. | Setter
Heide is looking to build off a brilliant 2022 campaign when she racked up a career high 1407 assists, as well as 150 kills, 22 service aces, 47 blocks, and 319 digs. The senior from Jupiter, Fla, was an honorable mention NAIA All-American last fall, as well as the Sun Conference Setter of the Year.
Southeastern
Grace Petty
Senior | Rochester, Ill. | Outside/Right Side Hitter
Petty was named First Team All-Sun Conference last season as well as SUN All-Tournament after leading the team in points, kill, and service aces. She was also second on the team in digs.
St. Thomas
Bianca Grassi
Junior | Livorno, Italy | Libero
Grassi is the defending back-to-back libero of the year for the conference leading the way for a five-plus digs per set average. The junior was also named AVCA Regional Defender of the Year.
Warner
Karla Rodriguez
Senior | Rincon, Puerto Rico | Libero
In her second season at Warner, senior Karla Rodriguez is looking to help her team improve from the 2022 season, where she led the team defensively in digs.
Webber International
Teodora Ranitovic
Senior | Cacak, Serbia | Middle Hitter
Ranitovic transferred to Webber in 2021, and has been an exceptional leader for the Warriors the last two seasons. She played in 49 matches last year, and totaled 167 kills, 10 assists, 29 solo blocks, 73 assisted blocks to be named Second Team All-Conference last season. Ranitovic put in work during the off-season, and is coming back as a big part of the 2023 offensive threat for the Warriors.
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