Villarreal Named to Metro Preseason All-Conference Team
8/20/2026 10:01:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Full Metro Release
Fairfield, Conn. – A two-year all-conference selection, junior libero Miliani Villarreal was selected as one of eight players on the Metro Conference Preseason All-Conference Team as announced by the league office.
An All-Rookie selection in 2024 and a Second Team All-Conference selection last season, Villarreal has appeared in all 61 matches since stepping on campus. Last season, she was a six-time Metro Libero of the Week, closing out her sophomore campaign with 555 digs for an average of 4.78 per set, setting a school record for individual digs in a season.
Overall, Villarreal finished second in the conference in total digs and digs per set, while she was 16th in the nation in total digs and 25th in the country in digs per set. In addition to setting a school record for digs in a season, she also surpassed her own five-set program record with 40 digs in a conference match against Siena.
In addition to her team-leading digs, she added 196 assists and 32 service aces. As a rookie in 2024, Villarreal was named Libero of the Week eight times and combined that with a pair of Rookie of the Week selections, while finishing 26th in the nation in total digs with 549, averaging 4.73 per set.
As a team, Sacred Heart was picked to finish seventh in the 12-team Metro Conference in a poll of the league's head coaches. Reigning conference champion Fairfield University was the top pick, earning 10 of the possible 12 first place votes. Quinnipiac, Rider, Canisius, Niagara and Siena all preceded the Pioneers in the poll.
