ARLINGTON, TEXAS – A trio of Mavericks earned conference preseason recognition this Friday as the Western Athletic Conference league officials announced.  Graduate Mollie Blank was named the preseason setter of the year award for the first time in her career, while Brianna Ford and Paige Reagor were selected for the All-WAC Team.

Blank, a native of Mansfield, Texas totaled 56 kills, a .315 hitting percentage, 1,083 assists, 20 aces, 223 digs and 28 blocks (one solo) over 32 matches, or 116 sets last season. The graduate produced double-digit assists in all but one match, including 13 with at least 40 and three more with 50+. After a career-best season, Blank will return for her fifth year in 2024. She ranks second on the team with 30 career double-doubles and carries 2,373 assists into her final campaign.
 
Ford, who has been tabbed First Team All-WAC for the third straight season, concluded last season with career-bests in kills (470), kills per set (4.02), hitting percentage (.266), digs (326), digs per set (2.79), blocks (99), blocks per set (0.85), aces (35) and assists (27) over 32 matches. She also became just the second player in program's past 30 years to be named to an AVCA All-Region team.

Reagor, totaled a career-high 247 kills, a career-high .397 hitting percentage, 98 blocks (eight solo), 26 digs, three assists and two aces over 23 matches last season. The Frisco, Texas native produced program's second-best single season hitting percentage all-time.
 
In addition to the preseason all-conference team, the WAC announced its preseason coaches' poll. After finishing fourth in the regular season standings last year (21-11, 9-7 WAC), the Mavs were tabbed to finish second this season. Additionally, the Mavs received the most first-place votes out of any team in the conference with 5.
 
The Mavs will host Dallas Baptist on Friday inside the College Park Center at 6 p.m. in an exhibition. Admission will be free.
 
2024 WAC Preseason Player of the Year 
Tatum Parrott, Grand Canyon, Jr. 
 
2024 WAC Preseason Setter of the Year 
Mollie Blank, UT Arlington, Gr. 
 
2024 WAC Preseason Libero of the Year 
Lani Matavao, Utah Valley, So.
 
2024 Preseason All-WAC Team 
Nicole Mauser, OPP, California Baptist
Ashley Lifgren, OH, Grand Canyon
Tatum Parrott, OH, Grand Canyon
Trista Strasser, MB, Grand Canyon
Arianna Bilby, OH/RS, Seattle U
Emma Burke, MB, Tarleton State
Brianna Ford, OH, UT Arlington
Paige Reagor, MB, UT Arlington
Avery Shewell, OH, Utah Valley

 
2024 Preseason Coaches' Poll 
(First place votes in parentheses)
1. Grand Canyon – 60 points (4)
2. UT Arlington – 59 points (5)
3. Utah Valley – 50 points
4. California Baptist – 41 points
5. Tarleton State – 35 points
6. Abilene Christian – 31 points
7. Utah Tech – 22 points
8. Southern Utah – 17 points
9. Seattle U – 9 points
 
 
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