Liberty Selected 6th in CUSA Preseason Volleyball Poll

Delaware and Missouri State both join Conference USA this season, bringing membership to 12 programs.  

Western Kentucky was voted the preseason favorite after posting its sixth straight unbeaten regular-season Conference USA record in 2024. WKU won the 2024 CUSA Volleyball Championship, downing New Mexico State in the final for the second year in a row in order to make its sixth straight NCAA Volleyball Championship appearance.

UTEP, which received an at-large berth to the 2024 NCAA Division I Volleyball Championship, was voted second. CUSA newcomer Delaware earned third place in the CUSA poll after finishing as 2024 CAA Tournament Championship runners-up. Kennesaw State (4^th), New Mexico State (5^th) and Liberty (6^th) round out the top five.

FIU was voted 7^th, followed by (in order) Sam Houston, Missouri State, Middle Tennessee, Jacksonville State and Louisiana Tech.

Under the direction of first-year Head Coach Jeremy White, Liberty opens its 2025 schedule on Aug. 29 against Marist as part of the Buffalo Invite. The Lady Flames host Louisiana Tech, Sept. 26-27, to begin their CUSA schedule.

The CUSA Volleyball Championship will be hosted by FIU from Nov. 21-23 in Miami, Fla., with the winner of the eight-team tournament earning the CUSA’s automatic berth to the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship.

2025 Conference USA Preseason Volleyball Poll (First Place Votes)

1. Western Kentucky (8)

2. UTEP (4)

3. Delaware

4. Kennesaw State

5. New Mexico State

6. Liberty

7. FIU

8. Sam Houston

9. Missouri State

10. Middle Tennessee

11. Jacksonville State

12. Louisiana Tech

 

CUSA Preseason All-Conference Team

Anna Logan Gillens, Delaware

Mandi Morioka, FIU

Kayla Williams, Jacksonville State

Olivia Burrage, Kennesaw State

Manu Johnson, Kennesaw State

Sara Pustahija, UTEP

Ema Uskokovic, UTEP

Danika Washington, UTEP

Kaya Weaver, UTEP

Callie Bauer, Western Kentucky

Alivia Skidmore, Western Kentucky

Izzy Van De Wiele, Western Kentucky

 

Preseason Player of the Year: Kaya Weaver, UTEP