University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Mio Yamamoto Named Sun Belt Preseason Libero of the Year
8/15/2024 12:01:00 PM | Volleyball
The 2023 award winner highlights Louisiana’s preseason recognition
LAFAYETTE – Libero Mio Yamamoto represented Louisiana Volleyball on the 2024 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Volleyball team as she was named the SBC Preseason Libero of the Year and selected to the preseason all-conference team, the conference office announced on Thursday afternoon.
The honors were voted upon by the league's 14 head coaches. Yamamoto is the first Ragin' Cajun to secure one of the top SBC preseason awards.
The reigning SBC Libero of the Year and First Team All-Sun Belt performer in 2023, Yamamoto finished as the leader in total digs in conference matches and rounded up 450-plus digs, overall, in her Division I debut season last fall after transferring in from New Mexico Military Institute.
She elevated her game in SBC play, recording 296 of her regular season total 457 digs (65 percent). Yamamoto closed the regular season with a string of 14 consecutive matches with double figures in digs, hitting the 20-dig mark seven times.
Yamamoto averaged 4.0-plus digs per set each of the final seven conference series of the 2023 season in building a resume that led her to earning the highest honors for a libero in UL Volleyball history since the NCAA introduced the position in 2002.
In the preseason coaches' poll the Ragin' Cajuns were picked fourth in the SBC West Division.
Yamamoto and her Ragin' Cajuns teammates have two preseason appearances – an exhibition match at Tulane on August 23 and the annual Red and White Scrimmage at E.K. Long Gym on August 27 – prior to officially beginning the 2024 season by hosting the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic at E.K. Long Gym from August 30-September 1.
2024 Preseason All-Sun Belt Volleyball Team
Maya Winterhoff, App State (MB, Jr., Charlottesville, Va.)
Jalyn Stout, Coastal Carolina (S, So., Gainesville, Fla.)
Miëtte Veldman, James Madison (OH, Gr., Daleville, Va.)
Reagan Barth, Georgia Southern (OH, So., Lenexa, Kan.)
Mio Yamamoto, Louisiana (L, Sr., Chigasaki, Japan)
Myah Conway, Old Dominion (RS, Sr., Orwigsburg, Pa.)
Jade Defraeye, Texas State (MB, Jr., Dunkirk, France)
Alyssa Ortega, Texas State (L, Sr., San Antonio, Texas)
Ryann Torres, Texas State (S, Fifth Year, Buda, Texas)
Samantha Wunsch, Texas State (OH, R-So., Austin, Texas)
Tori Hester, Troy (OH, Sr., Salisbury, N.C.)
Janelle Stuempfig, Troy (S, Jr., Sussex, Wisc.)
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Jalyn Stout, Coastal Carolina (S, So., Gainesville, Fla.)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Jade Defraeye, Texas State (MB, Jr., Dunkirk, France)
Preseason Setter of the Year: Janelle Stuempfig, Troy (S, Jr., Sussex, Wisc.)
Preseason Libero of the Year: Mio Yamamoto, Louisiana (L, Sr., Chigasaki, Japan)
2024 Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
First-place votes in parentheses
East Division
West Division
ABOUT LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns (19-13, 9-7 SBC) posted their third consecutive winning mark under the guidance of head coach Kristi Gray during the fall 2023 season. UL posted its highest win total of Gray's tenure, totaling 19 victories, and claimed an SBC Tournament win for the third consecutive season.
Balance was the key to the Cajuns success offensively and defensively, with five players posting 150-plus kills and four players collecting 200-plus digs, directed by the efforts of setter Siena DeCambra and libero Mio Yamamoto, both All-Sun Belt selections. Yamamoto was named the SBC Libero of the Year.
For the second consecutive season Gray's exciting up-tempo style of volleyball drew record numbers to E.K. Long Gym, the Cajuns setting the total attendance mark for a single season once again drawing 7,219 over the 11-match home slate.
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter (@RaginCajunsVB), Facebook (/RaginCajunsVB) or Instagram (@RaginCajunsVB) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Volleyball.
Fans are also encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
The honors were voted upon by the league's 14 head coaches. Yamamoto is the first Ragin' Cajun to secure one of the top SBC preseason awards.
The reigning SBC Libero of the Year and First Team All-Sun Belt performer in 2023, Yamamoto finished as the leader in total digs in conference matches and rounded up 450-plus digs, overall, in her Division I debut season last fall after transferring in from New Mexico Military Institute.
She elevated her game in SBC play, recording 296 of her regular season total 457 digs (65 percent). Yamamoto closed the regular season with a string of 14 consecutive matches with double figures in digs, hitting the 20-dig mark seven times.
Yamamoto averaged 4.0-plus digs per set each of the final seven conference series of the 2023 season in building a resume that led her to earning the highest honors for a libero in UL Volleyball history since the NCAA introduced the position in 2002.
In the preseason coaches' poll the Ragin' Cajuns were picked fourth in the SBC West Division.
Yamamoto and her Ragin' Cajuns teammates have two preseason appearances – an exhibition match at Tulane on August 23 and the annual Red and White Scrimmage at E.K. Long Gym on August 27 – prior to officially beginning the 2024 season by hosting the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic at E.K. Long Gym from August 30-September 1.
2024 Preseason All-Sun Belt Volleyball Team
Maya Winterhoff, App State (MB, Jr., Charlottesville, Va.)
Jalyn Stout, Coastal Carolina (S, So., Gainesville, Fla.)
Miëtte Veldman, James Madison (OH, Gr., Daleville, Va.)
Reagan Barth, Georgia Southern (OH, So., Lenexa, Kan.)
Mio Yamamoto, Louisiana (L, Sr., Chigasaki, Japan)
Myah Conway, Old Dominion (RS, Sr., Orwigsburg, Pa.)
Jade Defraeye, Texas State (MB, Jr., Dunkirk, France)
Alyssa Ortega, Texas State (L, Sr., San Antonio, Texas)
Ryann Torres, Texas State (S, Fifth Year, Buda, Texas)
Samantha Wunsch, Texas State (OH, R-So., Austin, Texas)
Tori Hester, Troy (OH, Sr., Salisbury, N.C.)
Janelle Stuempfig, Troy (S, Jr., Sussex, Wisc.)
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Jalyn Stout, Coastal Carolina (S, So., Gainesville, Fla.)
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Jade Defraeye, Texas State (MB, Jr., Dunkirk, France)
Preseason Setter of the Year: Janelle Stuempfig, Troy (S, Jr., Sussex, Wisc.)
Preseason Libero of the Year: Mio Yamamoto, Louisiana (L, Sr., Chigasaki, Japan)
2024 Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
First-place votes in parentheses
East Division
- James Madison – 90 (8)
- Coastal Carolina – 88 (6)
- Georgia Southern – 74
- Old Dominion – 48
- App State – 45
- Marshall – 31
- Georgia State – 16
West Division
- Texas State – 98 (14)
- Troy – 80
- South Alabama – 71
- Louisiana – 57
- Southern Miss – 37
- Arkansas State – 35
- ULM – 14
ABOUT LOUISIANA
The Ragin' Cajuns (19-13, 9-7 SBC) posted their third consecutive winning mark under the guidance of head coach Kristi Gray during the fall 2023 season. UL posted its highest win total of Gray's tenure, totaling 19 victories, and claimed an SBC Tournament win for the third consecutive season.
Balance was the key to the Cajuns success offensively and defensively, with five players posting 150-plus kills and four players collecting 200-plus digs, directed by the efforts of setter Siena DeCambra and libero Mio Yamamoto, both All-Sun Belt selections. Yamamoto was named the SBC Libero of the Year.
For the second consecutive season Gray's exciting up-tempo style of volleyball drew record numbers to E.K. Long Gym, the Cajuns setting the total attendance mark for a single season once again drawing 7,219 over the 11-match home slate.
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Twitter (@RaginCajunsVB), Facebook (/RaginCajunsVB) or Instagram (@RaginCajunsVB) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Volleyball.
Fans are also encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
- www.RaginCajuns.com -
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