Shelbey Manthorpe named to All-Big East Preseason Team, Seton Hall Volleyball ranked 6th

Date: August 20, 2014

Shelbey Manthorpe, one of six seniors on an experienced Seton Hall Volleyball team, was named to the All-Big East Preseason Team, the league office released on Wednesday. The Pirates were selected to finish sixth in the preseason coaches' poll after garnering the fifth spot in the league standings to end last season.

The Big East has honored Manthorpe with preseason recognition in three consecutive seasons. She was the final Big East Player of the Week last season and later was named to the All-Big East Second Team. She led the country with 10 triple-doubles and ended the season with nine double-doubles. On top of that, Manthorpe had 8.76 assists per set, leading the team in that category by more than seven assists.

The Pirates will be led by the duo of Shelbey and her sister, Stacey, who led the team with 326 kills and 2.67 kills per set. The outside hitter has been named to the All-Big East Second Team in two straight seasons. With Amanda Hansen and Molly Grammer back as well for The Hall, the Pirates' ability to attack will be a strong point.

At libero, there is a question mark. All-time digs leader Alyssa Warren has graduated. It's up to sophomore Tessa Fournier to take the reigns at the position. She ranked fourth with 322 digs last fall along with 2.58 digs per set and is expected to be the team's primary libero this season.

Coach Allison Yaeger enters her third season at the helm for the blue and white. In a competitive Big East in which only four of the ten advance to the conference tournament, there is not much room for error. The Pirates have the veterans, but will be looking to find consistency after a 2013 season that ended with a 16-15 mark.

As for the rest of the league, Creighton, which is No. 23 in the AVCA Preseason Poll, topped the league with defending champion Marquette at No. 2. The Bluejays return a strong squad led by seniors Leah McNary and Kelli Browning. Creighton finished with a 23-9 overall record last season, earning a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Marquette sophomore Autumn Bailey was named the Big East Preseason Player of the Year. The honorable mention All-American player had an outstanding rookie season, tallying 4.61 kills per set throughout Big East play. She was also recognized as the East Coast Region Freshman of the Year.

The Pirates will play a home-heavy schedule that features two invitationals inside Walsh Gym and seven additional home games this fall than in 2013. The season will open in the Sunshine State when the Pirates take on the University of Miami at the Hurricane Invitational, which opens on Aug. 29. After playing Florida Gulf Coast and Florida A&M, SHU will return home for the Seton Hall Invitational, which will open on Sept. 5.

BIG EAST Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Creighton – 77 (5 first-place votes)
Marquette – 71 (4)
Xavier – 66 (1)
Butler – 58
St. John's – 50
Seton Hall – 43
Villanova – 29
Georgetown – 25
DePaul – 21
Providence – 10

BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year
Autumn Bailey, Marquette, So., OH

Preseason All-BIG EAST Team *
Autumn Bailey, Marquette, So., OH ^
Abbey Bessler, Xavier, So., OH ^
Alex Blair, Xavier, R-Sr., MB
Kelli Browning, Creighton, Sr., MB ^
Lindsey Gosh, Marquette, Sr., RS ^
Shelbey Manthorpe, Seton Hall, Sr., S
Leah McNary, Creighton, Sr., OH
Meghan Niemann, Marquette, R-So., MH ^
Belle Obert, Butler, Sr., OH ^
Karin Palgutova, St. John's, Jr., OH
Aubree Smith, Xavier, Sr., S ^
Erica Stahl, Butler, Sr., MB
Aleksandra Wachowicz, St. John's, Sr., OH

* - 13 members because of a tie in the voting
^ - unanimous selection

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