University of Connecticut Athletics
Volleyball Picked Third in Preseason BIG-EAST Poll; Three Huskies Make Preseason Team
8/21/2025 11:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
NEW YORK- Following a strong 2024 campaign, UConn women's volleyball was selected third in the 2025 preseason BIG EAST Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference announced in a release on Thursday. UConn received 80 points in the poll, finishing behind defending champion Creighton (100) and Marquette (85). Three Huskies were selected to the preseason All-BIG EAST Team, tied for the most selections from a single team (Creighton & St. John's).
After a breakout freshman season that saw her earn Freshman of the Year honors and make the All-BIG EAST Team, sophomore libero/defensive specialist McKenna Brand (Lucas, TX.) was selected to the preseason All-BIG EAST team. Brand led the Huskies with 516 digs (4.13/set), with a season-high 31 digs in the BIG EAST Tournament against Villanova. Brand finished 4th in the conference in digs, contributing the 2nd most in conference play. Brand was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week on November 18th and BIG EAST Freshman of the Week on November 25th, a key part of UConn's 2024 resurgence.
Senior outside hitter Emma Werkmeister (Victor, N.Y.) earned preseason All-BIG EAST honors following a standout junior season. Werkmeister received 2024 All-BIG EAST honors and was named an AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention. Werkmeister finished with 311 kills on the season, leading the Huskies with 3.42 terminations per set, and dominated the service line with a team-leading 51 service aces. Werkmeister poured in a career-high 29 kills in UConn's reverse sweep win over Colgate and chipped in a season-high 7 aces in a win over Brown.
Graduate student setter Doga Kutlu (Ankara, Turkey) rounds out the trio of Huskies on the preseason All-BIG EAST Team. A unanimous 2024 BIG-EAST Selection, Kutlu returns to Storrs after conducting the UConn offense. Kutlu led the team with 1,263 assists (10.10/set), and finished second in digs 410 (3.28/set) and aces (44). Kutlu had a season-high 54 assists against UAlbany and a season-high 32 digs in a win over Villanova, the most digs in a single game by any BIG EAST player in 2024.
The Huskies kick off their 2025 season at the Bearcat Classic in Binghamton, N.Y. against Lehigh on Friday, August 29th.
