NEW ORLEANS, La. – James Madison volleyball was voted first in the Sun Belt East, while Sophie Davis, Miëtte Veldman and Caroline Dozier all garnered Preseason All-Conference honors, the conference announced Tuesday afternoon.

The Dukes, who captured the Sun Belt regular season and tournament championships in 2022, received 13 of 14 first-place votes in the East division, while Appalachian State garnered one vote. South Alabama collected 10 first-place votes in the West, while Texas State received three. JMU and South Alabama will meet Nov. 9-10 in Mobile, Ala., where the two teams will play a back-to-back to close the regular season.

Veldman, entering her fourth season with the Dukes, was voted the Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year. She enjoyed a dominant 2022 campaign which culminated in a First Team All-Sun Belt selection. The Daleville, Va., native was also selected to the VaSID All-State First Team. Veldman finished with 423 kills, the 10th highest mark in JMU history and currently sits second in school history in kills/set for her career (4.14).

Davis, a fifth-year senior from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was selected as the Preseason Sun Belt Defensive Player of The Year. In 2022, she racked up 148 blocks, which placed her 25th nationally. In addition, Davis holds the James Madison career records in blocks per set (1.36) and hitting percentage (.386). She is also 51 total blocks away from surpassing Elizabeth Dean for the most in school history.

Dozier, who was also selected to the Preseason All Sun-Belt team, will return for her fifth collegiate campaign in 2023. Last season, she led JMU in assists (980) and surpassed 2,000 career assists on Nov. 5 against Marshall. Her 2,225 career assists are already the 9th most in school history.

JMU opens the season on Aug. 19 with a scrimmage against Virginia, before starting regular season play with the JMU Invitational Aug. 25 vs. High Point.

2023 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Volleyball Awards

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Miëtte Veldman, James Madison

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Sophie Davis, James Madison

Preseason Setter of the Year: Kailey Keeble, South Alabama

Preseason Libero of the Year: Megan Harris, Southern Miss

Preseason All-Sun Belt
McCall Denny, App State
Maya Winterhoff, App State
Sophie Davis, James Madison
Caroline Dozier, James Madison
Miëtte Veldman, James Madison
Myah Conway, Old Dominion
Niki Capizzi, South Alabama
Kailey Keeble, South Alabama
Hannah Maddux, South Alabama
Cara Atkinson, Southern Miss
Mia Wesley, Southern Miss
Tori Hester, Troy

2023 Sun Belt Preseason Coaches’ Poll
East Division
1. James Madison – 94 (13)
2. App State – 70 (1)
3. Coastal Carolina – 69
4. Georgia Southern – 55
5. Old Dominion – 54
6. Marshall – 29
7. Georgia State – 21

West Division
1. South Alabama – 93 (10)
2. Texas State – 77 (3)
3. Troy – 71
4. Southern Miss – 51
5. Louisiana – 47
6. Arkansas State – 37 (1)
7. ULM – 16

— JMU Athletics —