Two from Volleyball Earn Preseason Picks; Owls Tabbed Third in Poll

PHILADELPHIA -- The Temple volleyball team was picked to finish third in the American Athletic Conference in the poll released Monday after a vote of the league's coaches. The Owls had a pair of players selected to the preseason All-Conference team, as seniors Irem Asci and Izzy Rapacz were both unanimous picks for the honor.

TEAM NOTES
> Temple nabbed 101 total points in the poll, behind preseason favorite Wichita State (116) and Cincinnati (113).
> Wichita State, Cincinnati, and SMU (who finished fourth in this year's poll) all return as NCAA participants from a year ago.
> Last season, Temple finished 22-8 overall, with a 15-5 mark in The American? (3rd)?
> The 2016 Owls' squad also defeated every conference team at least once during the season, the only team in The American to accomplish that feat
> Temple finished the season ranked #47 in NCAA RPI, the best finish for the program since the 2002 season

INDIVIDUAL HONORS
> Both Asci and Rapacz were unanimous selections for the preseason All-Conference team.
> Asci is a back-to-back first team All-Conference selection, averaging 4.34 kills and 2.87 digs per set in 2016.
> Rapacz is a two-time All-Conference selection, nabbing first team honors last season, averaging 2.96 kills and 2.61 digs per set.

2017 SEASON
> Temple opens the season on Friday, August 25, playing Northeastern at the Maryland Invitational.
> The Owls will also take on the Terrapins, as well as UMBC, on Saturday, August 26, to close out the tournament.

2017 American Athletic Conference Volleyball Preseason Honors

Preseason Coaches' Poll

Place	School	Points	1^st Place Votes
1.	Wichita State	116	7
2.	Cincinnati	113	5
3.	Temple	101
4.	SMU	90
5.	UCF	82
6.	USF	62
7.	UConn	60
8.	Tulane	55
9.	Tulsa	45
10.	Memphis	31
11.	East Carolina	25
12.	Houston	12

Preseason Player of the Year:
Jordan Thompson, Cincinnati*

Preseason Team:
Kia Bright, UCF*
Kayla Williams, UConn
Carly Nolan, Cincinnati
Jordan Thompson, Cincinnati
Jade Tingelhoff, Cincinnati*
Katie Hegarty, SMU*
Kendall Patterson, SMU
Kaylie McHugh, Tulane
Irem Asci, Temple*
Izzy Rapacz, Temple*
Emily Hiebert, Wichita State*
Abbie Lehman, Wichita State

[*] Denotes unanimous selection