Alderete tabbed AAC Preseason Player of the Year

GREENVILLE, N.C. — East Carolina junior outside hitter Angeles Alderete has been named the 2024 American Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year according to an announcement by the league Monday morning. She was also selected to the AAC Preseason All-Conference Team for the second-straight season.

Alderete, a two-time All-AAC selection during her career, is the first player in program history to earn the accolade in any conference of which the Pirates have been a member. It is her second major accolade wearing the Purple and Gold as she was crowned the AAC Freshman of the Year in 2022.

An All-AAC First Team honoree a season ago, Alderete led East Carolina in kills (376), kills per set (3.19), total digs (364), points (430.5) and points per set (3.65) while ranking second in service aces (32) and digs per set (3.08). She finished the campaign ninth among league players in kills per set and points per set and notched 15 double-doubles – including an 18-kill, 11-dig effort in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) first round sweep of The Citadel which marked the Pirates’ first-ever postseason victory. Alderete racked up double-digit kills in 23 contests, putting up a season-best 19 in ECU’s five-set triumph at Virginia Tech.

In addition to Alderete’s recognition, East Carolina was selected fourth in the AAC Preseason Coaches Poll, garnering 106 points to slot behind league favorite Rice (136 points), Wichita State (127 Points) and South Florida (121 Points). The Pirates put together a 21-11 overall record and 11-8 AAC clip, ending up third in the East Division and tied for sixth overall on the conference table. ECU earned a postseason bid for the first time in program history, hosting the first and second rounds of the NIVC, while cementing its first 20-win season since 2017.

East Carolina officially opens the 2024 campaign Aug. 30-31 when it takes on Queens University, host UNCW and Loyola University Maryland at the Hampton Inn and Suites Seahawk Classic in Wilmington, N.C.

2024 American Athletic Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Rice (8) – 136 Points
2. Wichita State (4) – 127 Points
3. South Florida (1) – 121 Points
4. East Carolina – 106 Points
5. Florida Atlantic – 104 Points
6. North Texas – 86 Points
7. UTSA – 79 Points
8. Temple – 57 Points
9. Memphis – 56 Points
10. Tulsa – 52 Points
11. Charlotte – 36 Points
12. Tulane – 30 Points
13. UAB – 24 Points
() – First-Place Votes In Parentheses

2024 Preseason Player of the Year
Angeles Alderete , Junior, Outside Hitter, East Carolina

2024 AAC Preseason All-Conference Team
Lara Kretchmer, Gr., MB, Charlotte
Angeles Alderete , Jr., OH, East Carolina*
Valeria Rosado, Sr., OH/RS, Florida Atlantic*
Aryn Johnson, Sr., OH, North Texas
Nia McCardell, 5th, L/DS, Rice
Maria Clara Andrade, Jr., OH, South Florida
Caroline Dykes, Sr., S, South Florida
Taylor Davenport, Gr., OH, Temple
Mia Sorensen, Jr., OPP, UTSA*
Avery Burks, So., OH, Tulane
Morgan Stout, R-Sr., MB, Wichita State*
Izzi Strand, 5th, S, Wichita State*
* Unanimous Selection

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