MACON, Ga. – With the inaugural Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA) Beach Volleyball season just around the corner, Florida State’s Jace Pardon was voted the Preseason Player of the Year, announced Wednesday by the league office.
A total of 10 student-athletes were voted to the inaugural CCSA Preseason All-Conference team voted on by the league’s head coaches. Five schools posted two student-athletes each on the All-Conference team, while all eight teams were represented on the 2016 CCSA Beach Volleyball Watch List.
Pardon, a redshirt senior from Manhattan Beach, Calif., is a two-time AVCA All-American and returns for the Seminoles after suffering a season ending injury in 2015. She is the all-time wins leader in FSU beach history with 119 and was a semifinalist in the pairs competition at the AVCA Championship in 2012 and 2014. Her winning percentage of .826 ranks fourth highest among student-athletes with 20 or matches played.
2016 CCSA Beach Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team:
Martyna Gluchowicz, Gr., FIU: Gluchowicz returns for the Panthers owning a 44-7 overall record in two years with the program. She has competed at all five positions and combined to go 20-3 last season. She went 4-0 at the 2015 AVCA National Championships playing at the No. 4 spot.
Tina Toghiyani, Gr., FIU: In three seasons with the Panthers, Toghiyani owns an overall record of 51-21. She is the program’s winningest Beach Volleyball player. Last year, Toghiyani went 23-3 competing at all five positions. At the 2015 AVCA National Championships, she won two matches by 2-1 scores.
Kristina Pellitteri, Sr., Florida State: Pellitteri posted a 25-10 record last season, which was tied for the most wins on Florida State’s squad. She played in four different positions, including going 6-0 at the No. 4 spot. Finished the year 13-6 in dual match play.
Jansen Button, Sr., Georgia State: Button, a senior from Menifee, Calif., earned All-America honors with her partner Sara Olivova after reaching the quarterfinals of the 2015 AVCA Pairs Championship. The duo posted a 24-14 record playing the top three spots for the Panthers.
Sara Olivova, Sr., Georgia State: Partnered with Button and closed out the regular season with a 14-3 record. The duo clinched Georgia State’s highest ranked win against No. 4 Florida State. For her career, Olivova owns a 58-40 record.
Mandi Orellana, So., LSU: Orellana competed at the No. 1 spot in her freshman season and finished with a 19-9 record playing alongside Katie Lindelow. The duo recorded victories against eight Top-20 opponents, including four wins against Top-10 teams.
Katie Lindelow, Sr., LSU: Anchored the No. 1 spot with Orellana all season long for LSU and appeared in every match. The duo won the Gold Bracket of the Tiger Sand Tournament and clinched the winning point in a 3-2 win over South Carolina at the Battle on the Bayou Tournament. Captured the Silver Bracket title at the Fiesta on Siesta Key tournament in 2015.
Jackie Wegner, Sr., Tulane: Partnered with Tea Juric all of 2015 and became the program’s first 30 match winner with a 30-11 overall record. The duo received back-to-back bids to the AVCA National Pairs Championship. The duo made more history by reaching Sunday’s 16-seeded bracket for the pairs championship.
Tea Juric, Jr., Tulane: Tallied a 21-7 overall record in dual matches playing alongside Wegner for the entire 2015 season. The duo went 18-5 at the No. 1 spot for the Green Wave. At Fiesta on Siesta, the duo won six straight matches to reach the pairs championship in the Gold Bracket.
The 2016 Beach Volleyball season begins on the weekend of March 4th.
