Xavier University Athletics
Kemp Named to Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
08.21.25 | Volleyball
Margo Kemp was the 2024 BIG EAST Co-Freshman of the Year.
NEW YORK - Margo Kemp earned a spot on the 2025 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team as voted on by the league's coaches. Xavier was picked to finish seventh in the league.
Kemp is the reigning BIG EAST Co-Freshman of the Year after finishing fourth in the league with a .345 hitting percentage.
The redshirt sophomore played in all 28 matches and 102 sets for the Musketeers last season, recording 240 kills, 302.5 points, 77 blocks and a team-high 20 solo blocks.
She hit above .400Â on 12 different occasions, including a career-high .667 clip against Kent State on September 13 where she tallied 13 kills and just one error.
The middle blocker posted a career-high 14 kills at Seton Hall on October 11 while hitting .591, her highest mark in conference play.
She recorded a personal best nine blocks including three solos against Saint Louis on September 6.
Following her debut weekend as a Musketeer, Kemp was named to the Bobcat Invitational All-Tournament Team for her contribution of 24 kills and nine blocks while hitting .340.
Kemp was named the BIG EAST Freshman of the Week three times in the 2024 season and also earned a spot on the All-Freshman Team. She shared Co-Freshman of the Year honors with UConn's libero, McKenna Brand.
The Musketeers were picked seventh after finishing with a 10-18 record (8-10 BIG EAST) a season ago. Head coach Christy Pfeffenberger enters her 11th season at the helm of the program with 12 returners from last year's squad.
Xavier opens its season on August 29 against Tennessee Tech at the Stacheville Challenge hosted by Austin Peay. The Musketeers will play the host Governors on Friday evening and wrap up the tournament on August 30 against Murray State.
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BIG EAST Volleyball Preseason Coaches' PollÂ
(first-place votes)
Preseason BIG EAST Volleyball Player of the Year:Â Ava Martin, Sr., OH, Creighton
Â
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team^
McKenna Brand, So., L/DS, UConn
Doga Kutlu, Gr., S, UConn
Emma Werkmeister, Sr., OH, UConn
Jaya Johnson, So., RS/MB, Creighton
Ava Martin, Sr., OH, Creighton*
Kiara Reinhardt, Sr., MB, Creighton*
Hattie Bray, Sr., MB, Marquette*
Natalie Ring, Jr., OH, Marquette
Erin Jones, Sr., S/RS, St. John's*
Lucrezia Lodi, Sr., OH, St. John's
Rashanny Solano-Smith, Jr., L/DS, St. John's
Abby Harrell, Jr., OH, Villanova
Campbell McKinnon, So., MB, Villanova
Margo Kemp, RS-So., MB, Xavier
^Denotes tie in voting
*Denotes unanimous selection
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Kemp is the reigning BIG EAST Co-Freshman of the Year after finishing fourth in the league with a .345 hitting percentage.
The redshirt sophomore played in all 28 matches and 102 sets for the Musketeers last season, recording 240 kills, 302.5 points, 77 blocks and a team-high 20 solo blocks.
She hit above .400Â on 12 different occasions, including a career-high .667 clip against Kent State on September 13 where she tallied 13 kills and just one error.
The middle blocker posted a career-high 14 kills at Seton Hall on October 11 while hitting .591, her highest mark in conference play.
She recorded a personal best nine blocks including three solos against Saint Louis on September 6.
Following her debut weekend as a Musketeer, Kemp was named to the Bobcat Invitational All-Tournament Team for her contribution of 24 kills and nine blocks while hitting .340.
Kemp was named the BIG EAST Freshman of the Week three times in the 2024 season and also earned a spot on the All-Freshman Team. She shared Co-Freshman of the Year honors with UConn's libero, McKenna Brand.
The Musketeers were picked seventh after finishing with a 10-18 record (8-10 BIG EAST) a season ago. Head coach Christy Pfeffenberger enters her 11th season at the helm of the program with 12 returners from last year's squad.
Xavier opens its season on August 29 against Tennessee Tech at the Stacheville Challenge hosted by Austin Peay. The Musketeers will play the host Governors on Friday evening and wrap up the tournament on August 30 against Murray State.
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PRESEASON BIG EAST HONORS
BIG EAST Volleyball Preseason Coaches' PollÂ
(first-place votes)
- Creighton (10) 100
- Marquette (1) 85
- UConn 80
- St. John's 79
- Villanova 63
- DePaul 53
- Xavier 47
- Seton Hall 31
- Butler 29
- Georgetown 27
- Providence 11
Preseason BIG EAST Volleyball Player of the Year:Â Ava Martin, Sr., OH, Creighton
Â
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team^
McKenna Brand, So., L/DS, UConn
Doga Kutlu, Gr., S, UConn
Emma Werkmeister, Sr., OH, UConn
Jaya Johnson, So., RS/MB, Creighton
Ava Martin, Sr., OH, Creighton*
Kiara Reinhardt, Sr., MB, Creighton*
Hattie Bray, Sr., MB, Marquette*
Natalie Ring, Jr., OH, Marquette
Erin Jones, Sr., S/RS, St. John's*
Lucrezia Lodi, Sr., OH, St. John's
Rashanny Solano-Smith, Jr., L/DS, St. John's
Abby Harrell, Jr., OH, Villanova
Campbell McKinnon, So., MB, Villanova
Margo Kemp, RS-So., MB, Xavier
^Denotes tie in voting
*Denotes unanimous selection
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Players Mentioned
MB
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