Courtesy of the SIAC
The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) has announced their All-SIAC women’s volleyball preseason team featuring 11 returning players from the 2022 SIAC Women’s Volleyball All-Conference team.
This year’s preseason team is led by Edward Waters’ Fatima Ramirez, who was selected as this year’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year alongside Mikayla Boyer, Spring Hill College, who was tabbed as the 2023 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, announced Friday by the league office.
All nominations and votes are submitted by head coaches and sports information directors.
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Fatima Ramirez
Edward Waters University
Outside Hitter | Sophomore | Belmopan, Belize
Ramirez, a native of Belize, led the conference in kills with 381 last season and led Edward Waters to its first East Division Championship title. Additionally, the outside hitter has collected 3.49 kills per set, 295 digs (2.71 digs per set), 37.0 blocks, 36 service aces, and 14 assists in 109 sets played. Last season, Ramirez earned the Tigers’ first Player of the Year honor since EWU’s transition into the SIAC.
Preseason Defensive Player of the YearMikayla Boyer
Spring Hill College
Outside Hitter/Libero | Graduate Student | Covington, LA
For the second consecutive season, Mikayla Boyer has been recognized as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. This is the fifth year that the Badgers have been represented in this award. In the 2022 season, Boyer was awarded SIAC Libero of the Year and First-Team All-Conference selection and earned a spot on the 2022 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team. Last season, the Louisiana native surpassed 1,000 career digs (1,424) and tallied 586 digs on the court in 2022.
2023 SIAC Women’s Volleyball Preseason Awards
| Preseason Offensive Player of the Year | Preseason Defensive Player of the Year |
| Fatima Ramirez, Edward Waters | Mikayla Boyer, Spring Hill |
| First Team | ||||
| Name | Position | Classification | School | Hometown |
| Kyra Gaston | Outside Hitter | Sophomore | Lane | Detroit, MI |
| Destinee Langston | Outside Hitter | Senior | Savannah State | Fayetteville, GA |
| Fatima Ramirez | Outside Hitter | Junior | Edward Waters | Belmopan, Belize |
| Khamari Trotter | Middle Hitter | Sophomore | Albany State | Kathleen, GA |
| Airyonna Weaver | Middle Hitter | Junior | Spring Hill | Mobile, AL |
| Mikayla Boyer | Libero | Graduate Student | Spring Hill | Covington, LA |
| Mataiya Barber | Setter | Freshman | Edward Waters | Denton, TX |
| Second Team | ||||
| Name | Position | Classification | School | Hometown |
| Shynique McGee | Outside Hitter | Junior | Clark Atlanta | Atlanta, GA |
| Raven Edwards | Outside Hitter | Junior | Fort Valley State | Merrillville, IN |
| Sydney Melton | Outside Hitter | Junior | Albany State | Hoover, AL |
| Allena Norton | Middle Hitter | Sophomore | Savannah State | Chapin, S.C. |
| Kaiah Green | Middle Hitter | Senior | Benedict | Albuquerque, NM |
| Hailey Elyicio | Libero | Junior | Albany State | Albuquerque, NM |
| Jessica Fairly | Setter | Junior | Spring Hill | Ft. Walton Beach, FL |
2023 SIAC Women’s Volleyball Preseason Rankings (by Division)
East Division
1. Edward Waters
2. Albany State
3. Benedict
4. Savannah State
5. Clark Atlanta
6. Allen
7. Fort Valley State
West Division
1. Spring Hill
2. Lane
3. Kentucky State
4. Central State
5. Miles
6. Tuskegee
7. LeMoyne-Owen
