MIAMI – FIU libero
Mandi Morioka has been named to the Conference USA (CUSA) Preseason All-Conference Team, as announced by the league office Thursday afternoon.
The rising senior enters her third year in the Blue & Gold and is expected to be a key contributor after appearing in 33 matches in 2024. Morioka played in 124 sets as the team's primary libero, recording 543 digs—the most in CUSA—and averaged 4.38 digs per set, ranking her among the nation's top 75.
In addition, Morioka led the team with 33 service aces and tallied 111 assists, the second-most by a libero in CUSA. She posted double-digit digs in 11 of 33 matches and recorded a career-high 25 digs against Western Kentucky on Nov. 22, 2024.
She currently holds a career mark of 865 digs, expected to eclipse the 1000 digs career-mark she enters her senior campaign in 2025.
The Torrance, Calif., native also earned CUSA All-Academic Team honors last season, maintaining a 3.94 GPA while majoring in marketing and international business.
In the preseason poll, FIU was projected to finish seventh in the conference, voted on by the league's head coaches.
2025 CUSA Preseason Player of the Year
Kaya Weaver, UTEP
2025 CUSA Preseason All-Conference Team
Anna Logan Gillens, Delaware
Mandi Morioka, FIU
Kayla Williams, Jax State
Olivia Burrage, Kennesaw State
Manu Johnsen, Kennesaw State
Sara Pustahija, UTEP
Ema Uskokovic, UTEP
Danika Washington, UTEP
Kaya Weaver, UTEP
Callie Bauer, WKU
Alivia Skidmore, WKU
Izzy Van De Wiele, WKU
Predicted Order of Finish
| Rank |
School (first-place votes) |
Total |
| 1. |
WKU (8) |
118 |
| 2. |
UTEP (4) |
114 |
| 3. |
Delaware |
87 |
| 4. |
Kennesaw State |
85 |
| 5. |
NM State |
82 |
| 6. |
Liberty |
73 |
| 7. |
FIU |
50 |
| 8. |
Sam Houston |
49 |
| 9. |
Missouri State |
45 |
| 10. |
Middle Tennessee |
44 |
| 11. |
Jacksonville State |
33 |
| 12. |
Louisiana Tech |
12 |
SOCIAL MEDIA
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