By Michael Eldridge | @DFWSportsMike

ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington junior center Rebekah VanDijk was tabbed the 2016-17 Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year as announced by the league office on Tuesday.

VanDijk, a second-team All-Conference selection in each of the previous two seasons, averaged 12.2 points per game and 8.9 rebounds per game to lead the Lady Mavericks in last year. During league play those averages went up to 14.2 and 9.7 per game, respectively.

"It is a sign of respect for what coaches think about Rebekah and her work so far as a Lady Mav," UT Arlington coach Krista Gerlich said. "She has done a great job of positioning herself as one of the best in the conference. It is a great honor for her to be selected and I know she's worked hard for that."

The pre-law major has started all but one game for UTA and last season became just the fifth player in UTA women's basketball history to record over 100 blocks in a career. She has totaled 25 career double-doubles in her two seasons at UTA.

The Lady Mavericks were tabbed third in the Coaches' Preseason Poll and picked up three first-place votes.

"Preseason rankings sometimes just apply pressure," Gerlich said. "It is very respectful and great that our conference thinks that we are going to be able to compete at that level. That is attributed to our returners and I just think it is a great place to be and gives our girls some pride and a goal to reach for. They know that they are expected to play at the top of the league."

Cierra Johnson was tabbed to the preseason second team. Johnson averaged double-digit numbers on offense last season as she increased her points per game. The junior has been in the top of the national defensive rankings and ended 2015-16 13th in NCAA Division I for steals per game at 2.92.

"They have been the catalyst for our recruiting class," Gerlich said. "They were the ones that we were able to attract early and build around. They have done a good job of maintaining that and I am excited to see them get some pay off. But I know that anything less than a championship won't matter to them, I know they are about the team winning the Sun Belt this year."

SUN BELT CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL/TEAMS

1. Troy (3) - 125 pts
2. Little Rock (5) - 121 pts
3. UT Arlington (3) - 118 pts
4. South Alabama - 109 pts
5. UL Lafayette - 101 pts
6. Texas State - 81 pts
7. Arkansas State - 80 pts
8. Appalachian State (1) - 64 pts
9. Georgia State - 52 pts
10. Georgia Southern - 39 pts
11. Coastal Carolina - 26 pts
12. UL Monroe - 20 pts

Preseason All-Conference First Team

• Kaitlyn Pratt (Little Rock, Senior, Forward, Social Work)
• Angel McGowan (Georgia Southern, Senior, Guard, Exercise Science)
• Marquita Daniels (South Alabama, Junior, Guard, Criminal Justice)
• Rebekah VanDijk (UT Arlington, Junior, Center, Pre-Law)
• Caitlyn Ramirez (Troy, Senior, Forward, Psychology)

Preseason All-Conference Second Team

• Madi Story (Appalachian State, Junior, Guard, Exercise Science)
• Sharde' Collins (Little Rock, Senior, Guard, Sociology)
• Makeba Ponder (Georgia State, Junior, Guard, Sociology)
• Chyna Ellis (South Alabama, Junior, Center, Allied Health)
• Cierra Johnson (UT Arlington, Junior, Guard, Child Psychology)

Preseason All-Conference Third Team

• Patrice Butler (Georgia Southern, Senior, Center, Exercise Science)
• Simone Fields (UL Lafayette, Junior, Forward, Computer Science)
• Erin Peoples (Texas State, Senior, Guard, Psychology)
• Kaitlin Walla (Texas State, Junior, Guard, Biochemistry)
• ArJae' Saunders (Troy, Senior, Guard, Sport Management)

Preseason Player of the Year

• Rebekah VanDijk (UT Arlington, Junior, Center, Pre-Law)