FRISCO, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders are predicted to repeat as champions of the Southland Conference in beach volleyball, as the 2024 preseason poll and players to watch were released by the conference office on Thursday.

The field will feature eight teams competing for the beach volleyball title, with McNeese in their inaugural season. The majority of conference play will take place at the mid-season invitational in New Orleans on March 22-24, with all eight teams participating.

Houston Christian will host the Southland Beach Volleyball Championships at Third Coast on April 19-21, with the winner taking the conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

The Islanders earned 94 points in the preseason poll with ten first-place votes, followed closely by Boise State in second with six first-place votes and 88 overall points. 

Head coaches and sports information directors at each school voted in the preseason poll and were not permitted to vote for their own school. The Players to Watch list was submitted by each school.

The regular season begins this weekend with all eight Southland Beach teams in action at tournaments across the country.

2023 SOUTHLAND BEACH VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL

Pl	School	1st	Pts
1	A&M-Corpus Christi	10	94
2	Boise State	6	88
3	HCU		69
4	New Orleans		56
	San Jose State		51
6	Southeastern		44
T-7	Nicholls		23
T-7	McNeese		23

PLAYERS TO WATCH
A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI
Chloe Tome, Gr., Milwaukee, Wis. (Missouri State) - Named SLC Newcomer of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Conference Second Team after going 17-12 in the regular season at court two with partner Kristin Bobay last year. The duo played in every dual to aid in the team posting its best overall record in program history at 25-10 and fuel both a regular season and tournament championship where they went on to defeat UT-Martin in round one of the NCAA Tournament.

Stephanie Young, Gr., Frisco, TX (Florida Atlantic) - Graduate transfer from Florida Atlantic where she spent the last four seasons who ended last season ranked No. 12 in the nation. Finished 2023 with a 16-11 record to help the Owls to a Conerence USA Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances are the No. 12 seed where she defeated No. 5 LSU in straight sets at court five.

Cassie Dodd, Fr., Perth, Australia (UCSSC Lake Ginninderra) - Incoming freshman from Australia where she garnered a national ranking of No. 13 in her home country. She was a member of the Australian Volleyball Academy and the Australian Senior Indoor Team, in addition to seeing two first-place finishes at the Australian U19 and U21 Junior Bech Volleyball Tours and top-10 finishes at both the U19 Asian Beach Volleyball Championship and the U19 World Beach Volleyball Championships in 2022.

Madison Morrow, So., Haslet, TX (SFA) - Joins the Islanders after spending her freshman season at Stephen F. Austin where she finished with a team-best 15-9 overall record splitting her time between courts one and two. 

BOISE STATE
?Marlayna Bullington, Sr., Portland, Tenn. (Austin Peay, Portland HS) - graduate transfer from Austin Peay, where she played a majority of her career on the top court for the Governors. Holds best winning percentage in program history (.680) and is third in all-time wins (51). Finished 20-9 last season, and was named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and OVC Pair of the Year alongside partner Kelsey Mead. 

Rorianna Chartier, Sr., Edmond, Okla. (Santa Fe HS) - Chartier is third in program history with 50 career wins. Played in 34 matches last season, finishing 18-16 on the season. Started the season at the No. 3 position, before jumping to the No. 2 spot, and finished the season playing alongside Sierra Land on the top court. She was named Southland Conference Pair of the Week alongside partner Ava Anderson on March 7 after going 4-0 at the No. 3 position at the CSUN Invitational. The senior was also named to the Southland Conference All-Academic Team and named College Sports Communicators Academic All-District.

Emilia Guerra-Acuña, Jr., San Antonio, Texas (Brandeis HS) - Named Southland Conference First Team at the No. 3 position, alongside partner Lily Patock. Played in 33 total matches on the season, finishing with a 22-11 record. Guerra-Acuña has 40 career wins, the fifth-most in Bronco history. Her 22 wins are the second-most in a single season in program history. She finished 15-4 alongside teammate Lily Patock, the second-best win percentage in a season in program history (.790). Played a majority of her matches at the No. 3 position, finishing 14-2 on the season. Defeated No. 13 Washington 21-19, 21-19 alongside Patock at the Husky Invitational (April 15). Finished 3-0 at the Southland Conference Championship, with two matches left unfinished.

Sierra Land, Sr., Albuquerque, N.M. (Volcano Vista HS) - Played in 35 matches last year, all on the top court for the Broncos. Finished with a record of 14-21, with her 14 wins being the most wins on the No. 1 court in program history. Land is fourth in program history with 43 career wins. She was named Southland Conference Pair of the Week alongside Madison Nichols on Feb. 28 after going 3-1 at the Cactus Classic. The duo received the honor again on March 21 after going 4-0 at the San Jose State Tournament.

HCU
Kristen Kleymeyer, Sr., Austin, Texas (Lake Travis) - Kleymeyer won 19 matches at the 2's last season with teammate Lindsey Harris, the fifth-highest win total by a pair in program history. A third team all-conference selection in 2022, Kleymeyer is tied for ninth all-time at HCU with 43 career wins.

Abbey Bufkin, Sr., Katy, Texas (Homeschool/ULM) - Bufkin earned 16 wins in 2023, playing primarily at the 3's. In her first two seasons at ULM, she recorded 23 wins to give her 39 for her career.

Mary Alper, Jr., League City, Texas (Clear Springs) - Alper has totaled 25 wins in her career, including 12 last season while playing at the 3's, 4's and 5's.

Kylann Griffith, Jr., Vanderbilt, Texas (Industrial) - Griffith has totaled 13 career wins, including going 8-10 last season at the 5's.  

NEW ORLEANS
?Maria Ozaeta, So.,  Madrid, Spain -  Maria returns for her second season at UNO. In 2023 she recorded a 21-13 overall record in the No. 1 position. In the fall she competed at the AVCA pairs championship where she recorded a 5-3 record and a 37th overall placing. 

Bria Garmon, Sr., Festus, MO. - Bria returns to the Southland for the first time since a 18-8 record as a freshman and First Team All-Conference selection in 2021, joining UNO for her senior season. In 2023 Bria competed primarily in the No. 1 pair at UCA. 

Hannah Volpi, Gr., Metairie, LA. - Hannah returns to UNO for her 5th and final season coming off of an injury as she finished the year with a 19-13 overall record, primarily in the No. 3 position. This was following the 2022 season where she competed in the No. 2 position with a 18-16 record. Hannah has a 46-36 overall career record and is a two-time Southland All-Conference Member. 

SAN JOSÉ STATE
Jada Hall, Jr, Lakewood, Colo (Colorado Mesa) - Jada brings national champion level swagger to our lineup having made it to two national championship finals in her first two years at Colorado Mesa and winning one title.

Teila Allen, So., Clayton, Wash. (Mt. Spokane HS) - Teila is the daughter of AVP legend, Alan Allen, and has sand in her veins.. Since committing to beach full-time, she has completely transformed her game.

Allie Dale, Fr., Temecula, Calif. (Temecula Valley HS) - Allie is the lone freshman on our team who brings a true Southern California pedigree to our program. She has locked into the Spartan system of play and really elevated her game in a short time.

SOUTHEASTERN
Andrea Da Silva, Jr., Andorra la Vella, Andorra - Talented newcomer for Southeastern that played a key role for her previous institution recording 23.0 blocks. Da Silva collected 108 kills and contributed 126.5 points last season. Da Silva is a promising new addition for the Lady Lions.

Ysabella Lockwood, Sr., Friendswood, Texas - Premier blocker for the Lady Lions that recorded a three game winning streak with partner Mabry Ward. Lockwood ended last season with an overall record of 10-20 and is another athletic weapon for Southeastern returning with experience.

Mia McKinney, So., Humble, Texas - Finished with a solid freshman campaign last season with SLU. McKinney has made impressive improvements since 11 wins last season. With her partner Jolie Hidalgo, they achieved a 12-19 win chart.

Mia Sauers, Fr., League City, Texas - Talented incoming freshman that accomplished great victories throughout high school with skill sets to help the Lady Lions progress this season. Sauers ranked first place in the USAV Galveston Beach Regional Qualifier.

NICHOLLS
Kennedi Steele, Jr., Henderson, Nevada (Nevada State HS) - Was on the #1 pair the whole season and earned wins over Lagrange College, Loyola New Orleans, Southern Miss, and HCU at the conference tournament.

Aspen Steele, Jr., Henderson, Nevada (Nevada State HS) - Was on the #1 pair the whole season and earned wins over Lagrange College, Loyola New Orleans, Southern Miss, and HCU at the conference tournament.

McNEESE
Carissa Chainey, Jr., Middleton, Idaho (Feather River College) – JUCO transfer from Feather River College (FRC) where she helped FRC go 17-5 in 2022 and 17-4 in 2023 beach seasons. Looking to build off her first fall indoor season at McNeese where she was named First Team All-Southland Conference.

Gracey Janes, So., Lenexa, Kansas (Rockurst University) - Transfer from Rockhurst University where she played indoor volleyball for two seasons. Debuting collegiately on the sand as a part of McNeese's inaugural team.