RICHMOND, Va. — Seniors
Olivia Esposito and
Nicole Smith were named to the Preseason All-CAA Volleyball Team, the league office announced Monday afternoon.
Esposito played in 20 matches last season, ranking second on the team in total blocks with 81.0 and first in blocks per set at 1.04. She added 89 kills and posted a .284 hitting percentage.
A native of Carversville, Pa., Esposito had a breakout sophomore campaign in 2023 that saw her earn Second Team All-CAA honors after leading the league in blocks per set (1.27) and hitting percentage (.367), the latter standing as a single-season school record. Her .329 career hitting percentage is also a program record.
Smith, who hails from Peachtree City, Ga., racked up 250 kills in 2024, ranking second on the Tribe. She posted an average of 2.63 kills per set across 95 sets played, adding 81 digs and 34.0 blocks.
The Tribe, who was picked to finish sixth in the league standings, will open its season on Aug. 29 at the Winthrop Tournament in Rock Hill, S.C.
NOTES
- This is Esposito's second straight year on the Preseason All-CAA squad.
- William & Mary is one of two programs (Hofstra and Towson) to have multiple Preseason All-CAA selections.
- It is also the first since 2010 that multiple Tribe players have earned Preseason All-CAA recognition.
2025 CAA VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL
Team (1st Place Votes) Points
Charleston (5) 92
Hofstra (4) 90
Towson (1) 88
North Carolina A&T (1) 68
Stony Brook, 62
William & Mary 55
Northeastern 47
Elon 34
UNCW 30
Campbell 29
Hampton 10
2025 CAA VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON AWARDS
CAA Preseason Player of the Year
Tyne Ross, North Carolina A&T
Preseason All-CAA Team
Clara Bal, Hofstra, RS, Sr., Riom, France
Erin Brothers, Towson, MB, Sr., Grove City, Ohio
Olivia Esposito, William & Mary, MB, Sr., Carversville, Pa.
Cameron Lanier, Elon, MB/RS, Jr., Chapel Hill, N.C.
Kali Moore, Stony Brook, OH, Sr., Brooklyn, N.Y.
Tyne Ross, North Carolina A&T, OH, So., Cameron, N.C.
Nicole Smith, William & Mary, OH, Sr., Peachtree City, Ga.
Izadora Stedile, Hofstra, OH, Sr., Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Sydney Stewart, Towson, DS/L, Sr., Elizabethtown, Pa.
Gwen Wolkow, Campbell, OH, Sr., Downers Grove, Ill.
Honorable Mentions: Caroline Berlekamp, MB, Elon; Deanna Dollar, OH, Charleston; Maddie Lambers, MB, Campbell; Valentina Meirelles, OH, Northeastern; Leonor Polezzi, S, North Carolina A&T; Catherine Rucker, MB, Elon
FOLLOW TRIBE VOLLEYBALL
Fans can keep up with the Tribe by following @WMTribeVB on X/Twitter and Instagram.
