DALLAS – Conference USA unveiled its preseason poll and honors for the 2021 spring season Thursday, as voted on by the league's 14 head coaches. 2019 NCAA Tournament participants WKU and Rice were predicted the top finishers as the league will utilize East and West Divisions for the upcoming campaign. WKU junior Lauren Matthews was chosen as the C-USA Preseason Player of the Year.

The Hilltoppers enter the season ranked No. 25 in the AVCA's Preseason Poll. In 2019, WKU turned in the program's best winning percentage (.941) with an overall record of 32-2, and finished the year ranked 22^nd in the final poll. Contributing to those accomplishments was the team's perfect performance in conference action. The Tops finished 14-0 and went on to claim both the regular season and C-USA tournament championships. The historic run led to WKU hosting the NCAA Tournament's first and second rounds for the first time as the field's No. 15 seed.

Matthews was outstanding for WKU in her second season. The middle hitter collected AVCA South Region Player of the Year, C-USA Player of the Year and C-USA Tournament MVP accolades. Her .448 hitting percentage ranked first in the nation and second on the school's all-time single-season list. Defensively, Matthews amassed 139 blocks at a 1.18 per set clip, which ranked fourth in the league.  

Rice is also coming off of a banner year in which the program saw its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory and Top-25 ranking. The Owls earned an at-large ticket, helping C-USA earn multiple NCAA bids for the first time since 2009. The 2019 Owls compiled the second-most wins in program history (27-4), while turning in a 13-1 mark in conference play. Rice entered the Top 25 at No. 22 in September, reaching as high as No. 17 and coming in at No. 24 in the final poll. The Owls received 26 votes in this year's preseason rankings released on Jan. 5.

A unique 2020-21 campaign also features the addition of Old Dominion as the program embarks on its inaugural season. Old Dominion Director of Athletics Dr. Wood Selig announced the hiring of Fred Chao to be the first women's volleyball head coach in school history on Jan. 29, 2019.

The top four teams in each division will qualify for the C-USA Volleyball Championship. Southern Miss will host the eight-team, single-elimination tournament April 1-3 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Preseason All-Conference Team
Sydney Rowan, Charlotte, Sr., OH
Fiorella Murillo, FIU, Sr., RS/MB
Sydney Nemtuda, Florida Atlantic, Sr., OH
Ciara Debell, Marshall, R-Sr., OH
Kayla Henley, Middle Tennessee, So., RS
Rhett Robinson, North Texas, Jr., OH
Nicole Lennon, Rice, Sr., OH
Anota Adekunle, Rice, Jr., MB
Cheyenne Jones, UTEP, Sr., OH/RS
Paige Briggs, WKU, So., OH
Lauren Matthews, WKU, Jr., MH
Nadia Dieudonne, WKU, Sr., S
 
Preseason Player of the Year
Lauren Matthews, WKU
 
Preseason Poll
East
1. WKU
2. Marshall
3. Florida Atlantic
4. Charlotte
5. Middle Tennessee
6. FIU
7. Old Dominion
 
West
1. Rice
2. North Texas
3. UTSA
4. UTEP
5. UAB
6. Louisiana Tech
7. Southern Miss