Belmont’s Mundy tabbed as A-Sun’s top volleyball player

Cat Mundy was chosen as the preseason A-Sun player of the year. Courtesy Belmont Athletics

Belmont senior outside hitter Cat Mundy was chosen as the preseason Atlantic Sun Player of the Year and was a unanimous selection to the all-conference team.

Belmont middle hitter and fellow senior Emily Cahill and Lipscomb setter Jake Pease were also selected to the all-conference team.

Lipscomb’s squad was voted second in the preseason A-Sun poll of league coaches.

It is the highest preseason ranking ever for the Lady Bisons volleyball program. Florida Gulf Coast, the 2007 regular season champion, received nine first place votes. Belmont and ETSU each received one.

The Lady Bisons, last season’s Atlantic Sun Tournament Champion, received four votes to repeat as the tournament winner.

As a team, Belmont was picked third in the conference standings. The decision for the A-Sun tournament champion was split between Lipscomb and Belmont.

Mundy begins her senior campaign as one of the most explosive players in Belmont volleyball history. Last season, on her way to a first-team All-Atlantic Sun selection, the Dallas native led the league in points per game (5.50) and finished with 465 kills, placing her third on Belmont’s single-season record list. Mundy is also poised to make a dent in Belmont’s top-five record list in career kills this season with 909 as she closes in on Debra Minot (1994-96; 1,038).

"It is a big honor,” said Mundy. “I can't believe it because there are so many great players in our conference. We are so competitive each year and it keeps getting more competitive. I'm really excited about it because I know we have a great team this year. We are going to be really deep this season with 14 girls – that's the most we've ever had on a team.”

“Cat’s ability to attack every set along the net, attack it well, and hit it with pace makes her unique,” Belmont coach Deane Webb said. “I don't believe there is a hitter in conference that is more versatile.”

Last season Pease was named South Region Freshman of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association and she won the Atlantic Sun Tournament Most Valuable Player award. She was also tops in A-Sun Tournament with .500 hitting percentage. She was second in the A-Sun in assists with 1,448.

Cahill has already left a legacy of being one of the most productive and consistent hitters at Belmont and in the Atlantic Sun. After three seasons as a Bruin, Cahill has the most accurate hitting percentage in Bruin volleyball history (.340) and helped the team finish second in the A-Sun in that category.

“Emily understands the game of volleyball,” Webb explained. “She understands what shot is required, how to execute it, and what to look for in opposing defenses. She is stronger now than she has been in the past, and that will be a great help to her this season.”

Despite the fact that the Bruins are only fielding two seniors, Cahill and Mundy, it helps that those seniors are leaders on and off the court.

“Just as many leaders have done before, Cat and Emily will be counted on to teach what they’ve learned to another generation of Belmont players,” Webb said. “I’m thrilled to be a part of a program with leaders that want our program to succeed – not just while they are here, but even after they are gone.”