UAH was announced as the favorite in the 2026 Gulf South Conference volleyball season preseason poll, while Lee led the way with three preseason All-GSC selections.
The poll and preseason selections were determined by GSC volleyball head coaches who could not vote for their team or student-athletes.
It makes the first time ever the Chargers have claimed the top-spot in the preseason poll after collecting seven first-place votes and 79 points. Trevecca Nazarene trailed in second with 71 points, while Lee (65 points) and Montevallo (51 points) rounded out the top-four spots.
The preseason All-GSC selections consisted of nine players from six schools. Lee led all programs with three honorees, followed by UAH who had two selections.
The roster included five all-conference selections from a season ago and featured Trevecca middle blocker Katilyn Grant, who was a first team member following last season, after finishing among GSC leaders in kills (363), kills per set (3.05), hitting percentage (.337) and blocks per set (0.89).
The Conference also unveiled its 2026 Newcomers to Watch, highlighting 20 players from nine schools. Names and information were submitted by each team’s head coach.
The 2026 season begins Thursday, Aug. 27 with non-conference play while league play starts Friday, Sept. 18. The GSC Volleyball Championship is slated for November 12-14, with all three rounds hosted by the No. 1-seed. Click
here to see the full schedule.
2026 GSC Volleyball Coaches Preseason Poll
1. UAH (7), 79 points
2. Trevecca Nazarene (2), 71 points
3. Lee (1), 65 points
4. Montevallo, 51 points
5. Christian Brothers, 44 points
6. Valdosta State, 43 points
7. Mississippi Christian, 41 points
8. West Alabama, 23 points
9. Union, 18 points
10. AUM, 15 points
First-place votes in parentheses
2026 GSC Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team
Sydney Durban, So., DS, UAH^
Mary Grace Bundrant, Sr., MB, UAH
Carleiny Morillo, Sr., S, Christian Brothers
Esthefany Rabit, Sr., MB, Lee^
Sophia Lippert, So., OH, Lee^
Payton Danley, Jr., MB/RS, Lee
Rhaia Davey, Sr., MH, Mississippi Christian^
Katilyn Grant, Sr., MB, Trevecca Nazarene*
Eimy Negron Domenech, Sr., L, Valdosta State
Organized alphabetically by school
* 2025 First Team All-GSC
^ 2025 Second Team All-GSC
GSC Volleyball Newcomers to Watch List
Ella Schumacher, UAH (Jr., OH, Sussex, Wis.)
Chelsea Daffin, AUM (Jr., OH/OPP, Mobile, Ala.)
Autumn Harper, AUM (Fr., MB, Mobile, Ala.)
Gabby Wokatsch, AUM (Fr., OH, New Berlin, Wis.)
Emmi Black, Lee (Fr., S, Cleveland, Tenn.)
Avery Sample, Lee (Fr., DS/L, Jonesboro, Ark.)
Mamie Fromdahl, Mississippi Christian (Jr., S, Mobile, Ala.)
Harper Green, Mississippi Christian (Fr., OH, Beeville, Texas)
Ava Rothe, Mississippi Christian (Fr., S, Kiel, Wis.)
Libby Rogers, Montevallo (Fr., S, Fairhope, Ala.)
Ellie Scharlow, Montevallo (Fr., OH, New Albany, Ind.)
Anna Vandell, Montevallo (Fr., OH, Deland, Fla.)
Brynne Krangnes, Trevecca Nazarene (So., S, Collierville, Tenn.)
Avery Ray, Trevecca Nazarene (Jr., RS, Soddy Daisy, Tenn.)
Anna Edwards, Union (So., RS, Pfafftown, N.C.)
Carly Edwards, Union (So., OH, Pfafftown, N.C.)
Isabella Messer, Union (Jr., DS/L, Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Camryn Childers, Valdosta State (Jr., OH, Cape Canaveral, Fla.)
Charlotte Kerscher, West Alabama (Fr., L, Straubing, Germany)
Ola Winiarek, West Alabama (Jr., OH, Bartoszyce, Poland)
Organized alphabetically by school