University of Memphis Athletics
Hardt Named to Preseason American Conference Team
Aug 19, 2026 | Volleyball
IRVING, Texas – Memphis senior outside hitter Amanda Hardt was named to the 2026 American Conference Preseason All-Conference team, the league announced Wednesday.
Hardt is the first Tiger to earn preseason all-conference honors since libero Bailey Houlihan in 2023, and the program's first outside hitter selected since Hannah Flowers in 2019.
The Glendale, Arizona, native enters her second season at Memphis after a standout 2025 campaign that was cut short due to injury. Despite being limited to 10 matches, Hardt led the Tigers in both kills per set (4.86) and points per set (5.42), recording double-digit kills in nine of those contests.
Hardt made program history on Sept. 11 when she posted a season-high 31 kills against Chattanooga, becoming the first Tiger since 2002 to record 30 or more kills in a single match. She also set a career high with six service aces against USC Upstate on Aug. 29. Her dominant start earned her two American Offensive Player of the Week honors (Sept. 1 and Sept. 16).
Memphis was picked to finish 10th in the American preseason coaches' poll with 45 points, placing ahead of Temple (36 points), Tulane (26 points) and UAB (23 points). Rice was tabbed as the preseason favorite with 144 points and 12 first-place votes. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams.
A full list of members from the preseason all-conference team as well as the coaches' poll are below.
2026 American Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll (first-place votes)
1. Rice (12) 1442. Tulsa (1) 120
3. South Florida 117
4. Wichita State 111
5. Florida Atlantic 106
6. North Texas 78
7. UTSA 73
8. East Carolina 71
9. Charlotte 64
10. Memphis 45
11. Temple 36
12. Tulane 26
13. UAB 23
2026 American Conference Volleyball Preseason Player of the Year
Jill Hanson, So., MB, Tulsa
2026 American Conference Volleyball Preseason All-Conference
Angeles Alderete, 5th, OH, East Carolina
Taryn Gilreath, Jr., S, East Carolina
Olivia Hart, Jr., OH, Florida Atlantic
Amanda Hardt, Sr., OH/RS, Memphis
Loredana Fouonji, 5th, MB, North Texas
Kaia Mateo, Sr., S, Rice
Aaliyah Smith, So., OH, Rice
Arissa Smith, Sr., MB, Rice
Laila Ivey, Sr., OH, South Florida
Christiana Greene, Jr., OH, Temple
Avery Burks, Sr., OH, Tulane
Jill Hanson, So., MB, Tulsa
Olivia Vance, Sr., OH, Tulsa
Jordan Heatherly, Sr., S, Wichita State
Season Tickets Available Now
The 2026 season tickets are now on sale. Fans can purchase season tickets by visiting HERE.
Season tickets start at $75 plus fees with general admission chairback and floor seating options available. If you are interested in Libero Row floor seating, please contact the Memphis Athletic Fund at maf@memphis.edu for more information.
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