University of Delaware Athletics
Pair of Blue Hens Collect Volleyball Preseason All-CAA Honors
8/17/2022 2:00:00 PM | Volleyball
RICHMOND, Va. – The Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) announced Wednesday afternoon its 2022 Preseason All-CAA Team and Preseason Coaches' Poll. Senior outside hitter Lani Mason earned a spot on the Preseason All-CAA Team while classmate setter Ezgi Basaranlar earned an honorable mention nod voted upon by the league's 11 head coaches.
"I am so incredibly proud to see Lani and Ezgi recognized with these honors by the CAA," said head coach Kimberly Lambert. "They led the way for us offensively last year, and I am excited to see what they are able to accomplish together with the rest of the team this fall."
Mason, an All-CAA First Team selection, put together a memorable junior season as she led the squad with 344 kills (3.37 k/per set) and 404.5 points (3.97 pts/per set) while ranking second among the team with 245 digs (2.40 digs/per set) in 102 sets played. The Chester, Va. native posted eight double-doubles (kills/digs) and registered 10 or more kills in 16 matches, including putting together three 20-plus kill performances, highlighted by a season-best 22 kills against Temple. With her performance on the court last season, Mason was recognized by the conference four times as the top offensive player of the week.
Basaranlar was an All-CAA Second Team honoree after directing the Blue Hen offense a season ago. The Istanbul, Turkey native led the team with 774 assists (8.60 a/per set) and .313 attacking percentage in 90 sets played. Basaranlar recorded three double-doubles (assists/digs) and dished out double-digit assists in 26 of her 27 appearances, including a season-high 52 assists against James Madison. Basaranlar added her name to the record books as she became the ninth player in program history to surpass the 2,000-career assists mark to enter her senior year with 2,060-career assists.
Delaware was picked to finish fourth in the preseason poll, garnering 68 points. The defending champions Towson collected the most points (96) to pair with a conference-best seven first-place votes. Rounding out the top three was Elon with 89 points (three first-place votes) and Charleston with 77 points (one first-place vote).
Delaware will kick off the 2022 season next Friday, Aug. 26 in Philadelphia, Pa. competing in the Temple Tournament. The Blue Hens will take the host Owls at 7 p.m. and then face Seton Hall on Saturday, Aug. 27 at 5 p.m. to close out the two-day tournament inside McGonigle Hall.
2022 CAA Volleyball Preseason Team
Fay Bakodimou, Towson
Nina Cajic, Towson
Haylie Clark, Elon
Chiara Cucco, Hofstra
Leah Daniel, Elon
Lani Mason, Delaware
Erica Staunton, Northeastern
Lydia Wiers, Towson
Lexi Wierzbicki, Charleston
2022 CAA Preseason Player of the Year: Leah Daniel, Elon
2022 CAA Volleyball Preseason Honorable Mention
Beatriz Alves, Hofstra
Ezgi Basaranlar, Delaware
Abbey Campbell, Stony Brook
Nailah Jenkins, Northeastern
Jenn Krzeminski, Elon
Kate Lanz, UNCW
Kayla Martin, Northeastern
Naiya Sawtelle, North Carolina A&T
2022 CAA Volleyball Preseason Poll
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"I am so incredibly proud to see Lani and Ezgi recognized with these honors by the CAA," said head coach Kimberly Lambert. "They led the way for us offensively last year, and I am excited to see what they are able to accomplish together with the rest of the team this fall."
Mason, an All-CAA First Team selection, put together a memorable junior season as she led the squad with 344 kills (3.37 k/per set) and 404.5 points (3.97 pts/per set) while ranking second among the team with 245 digs (2.40 digs/per set) in 102 sets played. The Chester, Va. native posted eight double-doubles (kills/digs) and registered 10 or more kills in 16 matches, including putting together three 20-plus kill performances, highlighted by a season-best 22 kills against Temple. With her performance on the court last season, Mason was recognized by the conference four times as the top offensive player of the week.
Basaranlar was an All-CAA Second Team honoree after directing the Blue Hen offense a season ago. The Istanbul, Turkey native led the team with 774 assists (8.60 a/per set) and .313 attacking percentage in 90 sets played. Basaranlar recorded three double-doubles (assists/digs) and dished out double-digit assists in 26 of her 27 appearances, including a season-high 52 assists against James Madison. Basaranlar added her name to the record books as she became the ninth player in program history to surpass the 2,000-career assists mark to enter her senior year with 2,060-career assists.
Delaware was picked to finish fourth in the preseason poll, garnering 68 points. The defending champions Towson collected the most points (96) to pair with a conference-best seven first-place votes. Rounding out the top three was Elon with 89 points (three first-place votes) and Charleston with 77 points (one first-place vote).
Delaware will kick off the 2022 season next Friday, Aug. 26 in Philadelphia, Pa. competing in the Temple Tournament. The Blue Hens will take the host Owls at 7 p.m. and then face Seton Hall on Saturday, Aug. 27 at 5 p.m. to close out the two-day tournament inside McGonigle Hall.
2022 CAA Volleyball Preseason Team
Fay Bakodimou, Towson
Nina Cajic, Towson
Haylie Clark, Elon
Chiara Cucco, Hofstra
Leah Daniel, Elon
Lani Mason, Delaware
Erica Staunton, Northeastern
Lydia Wiers, Towson
Lexi Wierzbicki, Charleston
2022 CAA Preseason Player of the Year: Leah Daniel, Elon
2022 CAA Volleyball Preseason Honorable Mention
Beatriz Alves, Hofstra
Ezgi Basaranlar, Delaware
Abbey Campbell, Stony Brook
Nailah Jenkins, Northeastern
Jenn Krzeminski, Elon
Kate Lanz, UNCW
Kayla Martin, Northeastern
Naiya Sawtelle, North Carolina A&T
2022 CAA Volleyball Preseason Poll
| Team | Points | |
| 1. | Towson (7) | 96 |
| 2. | Elon (3) | 89 |
| 3. | Charleston (1) | 77 |
| 4. | Delaware | 68 |
| 5. | Hofstra | 65 |
| 6. | Northeastern | 64 |
| 7. | North Carolina A&T | 38 |
| 8. | Stony Brook | 34 |
| T9. | UNCW | 32 |
| T9. | William & Mary | 32 |
| 11. | Hampton | 10 |
| ( ) = First-place votes | ||
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For the latest on the University of Delaware Volleyball, follow the Blue Hens via social media on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. #BlueHens
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