Jack Sturdivant
The Troy Trojans are set to tip off their volleyball season Friday, and after the Trojans were picked second in the Sun Belt Conference Western Division Coaches’ Poll, as well as having two players get preseason honors, the excitement for this season is through the roof.
After finishing with a 15-13 record in 2023, including a 12-4 conference record, the Trojans look to start the 2024 season off with a bang and pick up wins over Maryland and New Hampshire on Friday.
After having a successful 2023 season, capped off by being named All-Sun Belt second team, junior Janelle Stuempfig was given the honor of being named Sun Belt Conference Preseason Setter of the Year.
In 2023, Stuempfig played in all 28 matches and 105 sets while also tallying 73 kills, including recording a career high of eight kills against in-state foe Alabama. Stuempfig also tallied 1,084 assists, which was top five in the conference. This included a career-high 63 assists in two matches against Southern Miss.
Stuempfig also recorded 18 aces and 43 blocks in the 2024 season.
Joining Stuempfig in receiving preseason honors, senior outside hitter Tori Hester was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team.
In her junior season, Hester started in all matches and sets, finishing the season with 442 kills, including 50 kills in two wins over Southern Miss in a performance that earned her Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Hester also set a program record of 36 kills against the Golden Eagles, which also tied for third in the NCAA with 36 kills through five sets. She became only the 13th Trojan to record 1,000 career kills.
Hester was second on the team in digs tallying 302 -- 2.88 per set -- including a career-high with 26 against Georgia Southern. She also led the Trojans in double-doubles and service aces in 2023.
The season opens on Friday with two matches. The Trojans play Maryland and New Hampshire, starting at 12 p.m. in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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