Dilfer, Mersman Named Preseason All-ASUN, Bisons Tabbed 2nd
8/11/2021 1:00:00 PM | General, Women's Volleyball
ATLANTA - Lipscomb volleyball's Delaney Dilfer and Meg Mersman were named Preseason All-Conference selections Wednesday when the ASUN announced its awards, voted on by the league's head coaches.
In addition, the conference office also released its preseason coaches' poll with the Bisons, the defending ASUN champion, slated to finish second with 128 total points. Despite falling to Lipscomb in the title match in the spring, FGCU was tabbed the league favorite with 133 points. Both the Bisons and Eagles received five first-place votes.
A second team All-ASUN pick last season, where she was also named the ASUN and AVCA South Region Freshman of the Year, Dilfer made her mark on both sides of the net last season running the top offense in the conference.
She orchestrated the Bisons to sixth in the nation in kills per set (14.54), eighth in assists per set (13.25) and 16th in hitting (.271), while leading the ASUN in total kills (1003) and assists (914).
Despite playing just 61 of 69 sets, Dilfer ranked third in the conference in assists (634) and assists per set (10.39), making her work that more impressive. She also added 112 digs, 38 kills, 27 blocks and 16 service aces on the year (9th in ASUN).
In conference matches, her numbers were even better leading the team to a .281 hitting clip, 13.6 assists per set and 14.95 kills per set. She reached 50 kills in three straight outings and eclipsed 40+ assists in 10 matches, despite playing just three sets or fewer in 12 of 20 matches played.
The Austin, Texas native added three double-doubles in assists/digs with season highs of 54 kills against UNF in the ASUN semifinals and 13 digs on the road at Bellarmine.
Joining Dilfer on the eight-person team was Mersman, who also brought home second team ASUN honors last season with an AVCA All-South Region honorable mention.
One of only two Bisons to start all 20 matches last season, Mersman is coming off a dominating first year on both sides of the net where she helped lead a top-ranked defense that held opponents to a .158 hitting percentage and pitched 11 shutout victories, nine of which came against ASUN teams.
She led the conference in total blocks (71), ranked second in hitting (.390), third in solo blocks (10) and block assists (61) and seventh in blocks per set (1.04). Her 171 total kills and 211.5 total points were the eighth most in the ASUN, helping her to 2.51 kills and 3.1 points per set.
Against league opponents, Mersman was even better swinging an ASUN high .441 with 103 kills and only 20 errors on 188 attacks. She totaled 40 blocks and seven solo blocks in league action.
The Greenback, Tennessee product never committed more than four errors in a match, while compiling nine matches of 10+ kills and 16 outings of .300+ hitting, including 10 of at least .400 and five of .500.
Nine times she blocked 4.0 balls and 14 times she stopped 3.0+, including 6-of-7 to end the season
Not only picked as the ASUN preseason favorite, FGCU brought home two of the three superlatives with reigning Player of the Year Erin Shomaker and Setter of the Year Chelsey Lockey tabbed to repeat. UNF's Rocio Moro was also picked to defend her Defensive Player of the Year accolade.
The Bisons will host Tennessee Tech on Friday, August 20 at 6 p.m. for an exhibition match in Allen Arena before traveling to Norman, Oklahoma for the OU Invitational August 27-28.
They will then return to Nashville Sept. 2-5 to host the LUV Invite. The home opener is set for 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 2 against Kansas.
Be sure and follow us on Twitter (@LipscombVBall) and Instagram (@LipscombVBall) for all your LUV news. Fans can also text BISONS to 888-111 to get alerts on any updates throughout the season.
Preseason Volleyball Coaches Poll
In addition, the conference office also released its preseason coaches' poll with the Bisons, the defending ASUN champion, slated to finish second with 128 total points. Despite falling to Lipscomb in the title match in the spring, FGCU was tabbed the league favorite with 133 points. Both the Bisons and Eagles received five first-place votes.
A second team All-ASUN pick last season, where she was also named the ASUN and AVCA South Region Freshman of the Year, Dilfer made her mark on both sides of the net last season running the top offense in the conference.
She orchestrated the Bisons to sixth in the nation in kills per set (14.54), eighth in assists per set (13.25) and 16th in hitting (.271), while leading the ASUN in total kills (1003) and assists (914).
Despite playing just 61 of 69 sets, Dilfer ranked third in the conference in assists (634) and assists per set (10.39), making her work that more impressive. She also added 112 digs, 38 kills, 27 blocks and 16 service aces on the year (9th in ASUN).
In conference matches, her numbers were even better leading the team to a .281 hitting clip, 13.6 assists per set and 14.95 kills per set. She reached 50 kills in three straight outings and eclipsed 40+ assists in 10 matches, despite playing just three sets or fewer in 12 of 20 matches played.
The Austin, Texas native added three double-doubles in assists/digs with season highs of 54 kills against UNF in the ASUN semifinals and 13 digs on the road at Bellarmine.
Joining Dilfer on the eight-person team was Mersman, who also brought home second team ASUN honors last season with an AVCA All-South Region honorable mention.
One of only two Bisons to start all 20 matches last season, Mersman is coming off a dominating first year on both sides of the net where she helped lead a top-ranked defense that held opponents to a .158 hitting percentage and pitched 11 shutout victories, nine of which came against ASUN teams.
She led the conference in total blocks (71), ranked second in hitting (.390), third in solo blocks (10) and block assists (61) and seventh in blocks per set (1.04). Her 171 total kills and 211.5 total points were the eighth most in the ASUN, helping her to 2.51 kills and 3.1 points per set.
Against league opponents, Mersman was even better swinging an ASUN high .441 with 103 kills and only 20 errors on 188 attacks. She totaled 40 blocks and seven solo blocks in league action.
The Greenback, Tennessee product never committed more than four errors in a match, while compiling nine matches of 10+ kills and 16 outings of .300+ hitting, including 10 of at least .400 and five of .500.
Nine times she blocked 4.0 balls and 14 times she stopped 3.0+, including 6-of-7 to end the season
Not only picked as the ASUN preseason favorite, FGCU brought home two of the three superlatives with reigning Player of the Year Erin Shomaker and Setter of the Year Chelsey Lockey tabbed to repeat. UNF's Rocio Moro was also picked to defend her Defensive Player of the Year accolade.
The Bisons will host Tennessee Tech on Friday, August 20 at 6 p.m. for an exhibition match in Allen Arena before traveling to Norman, Oklahoma for the OU Invitational August 27-28.
They will then return to Nashville Sept. 2-5 to host the LUV Invite. The home opener is set for 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 2 against Kansas.
Be sure and follow us on Twitter (@LipscombVBall) and Instagram (@LipscombVBall) for all your LUV news. Fans can also text BISONS to 888-111 to get alerts on any updates throughout the season.
Preseason Volleyball Coaches Poll
| Place | Team (1st Place Votes) | Points |
| 1. | FGCU (5) | 133 |
| 2. | Lipscomb (5) | 128 |
| 3. | Kennesaw State | 108 |
| 4. | North Florida (1) | 103 |
| 5. | Jacksonville State | 94 |
| 6. | Liberty | 85 |
| 7. | Stetson | 71 |
| 8. | Central Arkansas | 64 |
| 9. | Bellarmine | 46 |
| 10. | Jacksonville | 41 |
| 11. | North Alabama (1) | 32 |
| 12. | Eastern Kentucky | 31 |
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