University of Delaware Athletics
Photo by: Gavin Bethell
Mason Named CAA Preseason Player of the Year as Volleyball Picked To Finish Second in Preseason Poll
8/16/2023 2:00:00 PM | Volleyball
NEWARK, Del. - Lani Mason, the reigning CAA Player of the Year, was selected by the conference's head coaches as the preseason Player of the Year and Preseason All-CAA Team for 2023, as announced on Wednesday, August 16, 2023. Delaware was also selected to finish second behind Towson in the preseason poll. Ezgi Basaranlar was named as an honorable mention.Â
Mason had a historic 2022 season that saw her be named ECAC Offensive Player of the Year, All-ECAC First Team AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, AVCA East All-Region, and CAA All-Tournament Team. She was the second Blue Hen ever recognized an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, and the eighth All-Region honoree. She was also named First-Team All-CAA for the second straight year. She finished the year with 548 kills, 5.03 kills per set, a .225 hitting percentage, 308 digs, 2.83 digs per set, 604 points, and 5.54 points per set. Mason led the conference in kills, kills per set, points and points per set. She had double-digit kills in 19-straight matches along with five 30-plus kill matches. In a five-set victory over Charleston on Oct. 2, she had a program-record 38 kills to go with 24 digs and was named National Offensive Player of the Week. She also had 35 kills against Northeastern the second most in a single-game in program history. On Oct. 30, she recorded her 1,000 career kill, the 20th Blue Hen to reach the feat and currently sits in 15th place with 1,153 career kills.
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Basaranlar was named Second-Team All-CAA for the second straight season in 2022 and was an All-CAA Tournament Team recipient. She led the team with a career-best 836 assists (9.72 a/per set) in 86 sets played and Recorded four double-doubles. She dished out double-digit assists in 18 of her 19 appearances, including a career-best 65 assists against William & Mary on Nov. 5, tied for eighth most in a game in program history.
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Delaware was picked second with 102 points in the preseason poll behind Towson, who were unanimously picked to place first. The Blue Hens finished the 2022 season 17-11 and 10-6 in the CAA, and made a run to the CAA Conference Tournament Championship Game in Kimberly Lambert's first season. The Blue Hens will open 2023 hosting the Blue Hen Invitational from August 25-27 against Loyola Maryland, Niagara, and Robert Morris.
For the latest on Delaware volleyball, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter, Instagram, and like on Facebook
Mason had a historic 2022 season that saw her be named ECAC Offensive Player of the Year, All-ECAC First Team AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, AVCA East All-Region, and CAA All-Tournament Team. She was the second Blue Hen ever recognized an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, and the eighth All-Region honoree. She was also named First-Team All-CAA for the second straight year. She finished the year with 548 kills, 5.03 kills per set, a .225 hitting percentage, 308 digs, 2.83 digs per set, 604 points, and 5.54 points per set. Mason led the conference in kills, kills per set, points and points per set. She had double-digit kills in 19-straight matches along with five 30-plus kill matches. In a five-set victory over Charleston on Oct. 2, she had a program-record 38 kills to go with 24 digs and was named National Offensive Player of the Week. She also had 35 kills against Northeastern the second most in a single-game in program history. On Oct. 30, she recorded her 1,000 career kill, the 20th Blue Hen to reach the feat and currently sits in 15th place with 1,153 career kills.
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Basaranlar was named Second-Team All-CAA for the second straight season in 2022 and was an All-CAA Tournament Team recipient. She led the team with a career-best 836 assists (9.72 a/per set) in 86 sets played and Recorded four double-doubles. She dished out double-digit assists in 18 of her 19 appearances, including a career-best 65 assists against William & Mary on Nov. 5, tied for eighth most in a game in program history.
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Delaware was picked second with 102 points in the preseason poll behind Towson, who were unanimously picked to place first. The Blue Hens finished the 2022 season 17-11 and 10-6 in the CAA, and made a run to the CAA Conference Tournament Championship Game in Kimberly Lambert's first season. The Blue Hens will open 2023 hosting the Blue Hen Invitational from August 25-27 against Loyola Maryland, Niagara, and Robert Morris.
For the latest on Delaware volleyball, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter, Instagram, and like on Facebook
Players Mentioned
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/ VolleyballHighlight: VB CAA Champions - 11/18/23
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Saturday, October 21
Highlight: VB vs. Charleston - 10/1/23
Monday, October 16
