NEW ORLEANS - App State redshirt senior
Addison Heidemann and senior
Maya Winterhoff have earned Sun Belt Volleyball Preseason All-Conference honors, the league announced Wednesday.
In 2024, Heidemann and Winterhoff helped the Mountaineers clinch the SBC East Division title and advance to the NIVC postseason tournament for the first time since the 2018 campaign.
Heidemann, a second-team All-SBC honoree and two-time Sun Belt Setter of the Week selection, tallied 906 of her 941 career assists during the 2024 campaign. She led the Mountaineers in assists and notched a team-high 11 double-doubles throughout the season. The Diller, Neb. native finished the season ranked third in the Sun Belt in assists per set (8.88) and fourth in total assists. Additionally, Heidemann made 238 digs, averaging 2.33 digs per set, and served up 34 aces last season. Heidemann recorded a career-high 61 assists in the Mountaineers' five-set victory over Marshall on Nov. 9, 2024, and made a career-high 19 digs in App State's five-set win over James Madison on Sept. 27, 2024.
This marks Winterhoff's third career preseason honor. Last fall, she collected an AVCA East Coast Regional honorable mention as well as first-team All-SBC accolades for her efforts on the court. Winterhoff led the Sun Belt and ranked among the NCAA's top 50 players in hitting percentage (.372). She also ranked among the top 10 in the league in blocks and blocks per set. The Charlottesville, Va. native led the Mountaineers last fall with 319 kills (2.85 k/s) and 108 blocks (18 solo, 90 assists). Winterhoff slammed down a career-high 20 kills in 41 attempts in the Mountaineers' five-set victory over Georgia State on Nov. 2, 2024, and went for a career-high nine blocks in App State's five-set thriller against Wofford on Sept. 14. 2024. Entering the 2025 season, Winterhoff has 811 career kills, a career hitting percentage of .377, and 340 career blocks (65 solo, 275 assists).
App State was picked fourth in the East Division with 61 votes and one first-place vote in this season's SBC Preseason Volleyball Coaches Poll. In 2024, the Black and Gold went 18-10 (11-3 SBC) and 9-3 in the Holmes Center.
The Mountaineers will open the 2025 campaign under the direction of first year head coach
Chad Sutton at the College of Charleston Tournament on Aug. 29, before hosting Elon at 6 p.m. at the Holmes Center on Sept. 2. This season's home slate will also feature the Mountaineer Classic, where App State will host Duke and Davidson, as well as eight conference clashes at the Holmes Center.
Season tickets are on sale now.
2025 Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year
Jalyn Stout, Coastal Carolina (Jr., S, Gainesville, Fla.)
Preseason Setter of the Year
Anna Loberg, South Alabama (RS Sr., S, Geneva, Ill.)
Preseason Libero of the Year
Sunni Sheppard, Southern Miss (Jr., L, Brandon, Miss.)
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
Kirsten Barrett, Georgia Southern (Sr., S, Cleveland, Ohio)
Reagan Barth, Georgia Southern (Jr., OH, Lenexa, Kan.)
Amiah Butler, Troy (Sr., OH, Pensacola, Fla.)
Daedrianna Cail, Arkansas State (Sr., MB, Marion, Ark.)
Jade Defraeye, Texas State (Sr., MB, Dunkirk, France)
Addison Heidemann, App State (RS Sr., S, Diller, Neb.)
Sarah Gooch, South Alabama (Jr., OH, Apopka, Fla.)
Anna Loberg, South Alabama (RS Sr., S, Geneva, Ill.)
Jalyn Stout, Coastal Carolina (Jr. S, Gainesville, Fla.)
Kaitlin Whitlock, Arkansas State (Jr., OH, San Antonio, Texas)
Maya Winterhoff, App State (Sr., MB, Charlottesville, Va.)
Samantha Wunsch, Texas State (RS Jr., OH, Austin, Texas)
2025 Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
East Division
1. Georgia Southern (9) – 87
2. James Madison (2) – 77
3. Coastal Carolina (2) – 75
4. App State (1) – 61
5. Georgia State – 44
6. Old Dominion – 27
7. Marshall – 21
West Division
1. Texas State (11) – 95
2. Arkansas State (3) – 81
3. South Alabama – 68
4. Troy – 54
5. Louisiana – 42
6. Southern Miss – 38
7. ULM – 14
Parentheses indicate first-place votes
