By: Mark Wasik
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KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State volleyball is set for its first season in Conference USA, and one of its stars has already been recognized by their new conference as junior outside hitter
Manu Johnsen has been named to the CUSA Preseason All-Conference, the league office announced on Thursday.
In addition, the Owls have been picked to finish seventh in the 10-team conference, finishing with 39 points, just one point behind sixth place FIU (40), and ahead of eighth-place and fellow Atlantic Sun rival Jacksonville State (28). This year's preseason favorite is Western Kentucky, who received 80 points and eight first-place votes as the Hilltoppers have won four of the last five titles including a sweep of the regular season and tournament championship a year ago.
Johnsen comes into CUSA as a two-time all-conference honoree during the Owls' past two seasons in the Atlantic Sun, including a first-team selection in 2023. She was also the ASUN Freshman of the Year in 2022. One of the top offensive players in KSU history, she led the ASUN with a school-record tying 454 kills and in kills per set with 4.13, which ranked her 31
st in the nation. Johnsen was also first in the ASUN in points per set at 4.64, 37
th-best in the NCAA, while her 510 total points ranked as the second-most in the KSU record book.
The Owls open the 2024 campaign with the Kennesaw State Invitational next weekend. On Friday, Aug. 30, KSU will start the day by hosting Wichita State at 12 pm, and close out with its first-ever meeting against Indiana in a 7 pm contest. The second day on Aug. 31 will see Wichita State and Indiana play at 11 am, followed by a second KSU-WSU match at 3:30 pm. All four games will be played in the Convocation Center on the KSU campus.
2024 Conference USA Preseason Volleyball Coaches' Poll
Place Team (1st place votes) Votes
1. Western Kentucky (8) 80
2. New Mexico State (2) 72
3. UTEP 66
4. Liberty 50
5. Middle Tennessee 48
6. FIU 40
7. Kennesaw State 39
8. Jacksonville State 28
9. Louisiana Tech 15
10. Sam Houston 12
2024 Preseason All-Conference USA Team
Manu Johnsen, Kennesaw State, Jr., OH, Copenhagen, Denmark
Kamryn Bacus, Liberty, Sr., OH, Edmond, Okla.
Madison Blane, Liberty, Sr., MB, Montgomery, Texas
Adri Rhoda, MTSU, Jr., OH, Hutchinson, Minn.
Yasso Amin, NMSU, Gr., OH, Cairo, Egypt
Mari Sharp, NMSU, Gr., OH, Albuquerque, N.M.
Darian Markham, NMSU, Gr., L, McKinney, Texas
Ryleigh Whitekettle, NMSU, Jr., RS, Topsail Beach, N.C.
Danika Washington, UTEP, Sr., MB, Fort Worth, Texas
Kaya Weaver, UTEP, Jr., MB, Galt, Calif.
Callie Bauer, Western Kentucky, Gr., S, Hudson, Mich.
Kaylee Cox, Western Kentucky, Sr., OH, Flower Mound, Texas
Kenadee Coyle, Western Kentucky, So., RS, Bloomington, Ind.
