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SEC Staff
Photo: SEC Staff
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (July 12, 2023) – Kentucky, which has earned at least a share of the SEC volleyball regular-season title since 2017, was chosen as the top choice to win the 2023 season, according to the SEC Preseason Coaches‘ Poll.
The Wildcats, who finished 22-8 overall and 15-3 in conference play last season, acquired 10 of the 13 first-place votes and 142 points in the preseason poll. Florida, who was co-champion with Kentucky last season, earned two first-place votes and 129 points to finish second in the poll.
Tennessee placed third with 113 points and one first-place vote, while Georgia took fourth place with 106 points. Arkansas placed fifth with 101 points, and LSU claimed sixth place with 96 points. Auburn received 89 points to finish in seventh place, followed by Texas A&M in eighth place with 63. Ole Miss and Mississippi State tied for ninth place (42), followed by South Carolina (39), Missouri (30), and Alabama (22) to round out the poll.
Fifteen student-athletes were named to the 2023 Preseason Volleyball All-SEC Team. The squad includes Jillian Gillen and Taylor Head of Arkansas; Akasha Anderson of Auburn; Alexis Stucky of Florida; Kacie Evans and Sophie Fischer of Georgia; Eleanor Beavin, Emma Grome, Reagan Rutherford and Azhani Tealer of Kentucky; Anita Anwusi and Sanaa Dotson of LSU; Sasha Ratliff of Ole Miss; Morgahn Fingall of Tennessee and Logan Lednicky of Texas A&M.
The 2023 SEC volleyball season is slated to begin on Friday, August 25, with conference play starting on Wednesday, September 20.
Preseason Coaches‘ Poll (First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
| Place | School | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kentucky (10) | 142 |
| 2. | Florida (2) | 129 |
| 3. | Tennessee (1) | 113 |
| 4. | Georgia | 106 |
| 5. | Arkansas | 101 |
| 6. | LSU | 96 |
| 7. | Auburn | 89 |
| 8. | Texas A&M | 63 |
| 9. | Ole Miss | 42 |
| Mississippi State | 42 | |
| 11. | South Carolina | 39 |
| 12. | Missouri | 30 |
| 13. | Alabama | 22 |
Volleyball Preseason All-SEC Team
| Name, School | Pos. | Yr. | Ht. | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jillian Gillen, Arkansas | OH | Gr. | 5-7 | Stilwell, Kan. |
| Taylor Head, Arkansas | OH | Sr. | 5-10 | Winter Garden, Fla. |
| Akasha Anderson, Auburn | PH | So. | 6-3 | Reston, Va. |
| Alexis Stucky, Florida | S | So. | 6-2 | Laramie, Wy. |
| Kacie Evans, Georgia | OH | Gr. | 5-11 | Wadsworth, Ohio |
| Sophie Fischer, Georgia | MB | Sr. | 6-5 | Fort Mill, S.C. |
| Eleanor Beavin, Kentucky | L | Jr. | 5-5 | Louisville, Ky. |
| Emma Grome, Kentucky | S | Jr. | 5-9 | Loveland, Ohio |
| Reagan Rutherford, Kentucky | OH | Sr. | 6-0 | Missouri City, Texas |
| Azhani Tealer, Kentucky | MB | 5th | 5-10 | Grand Prairie, Texas |
| Anita Anwusi, LSU | MB | Gr. | 6-3 | Houston, Texas |
| Sanaa Dotson, LSU | OH | Gr. | 6-0 | Houston, Texas |
| Sasha Ratliff, Ole Miss | MB | Sr. | 6-2 | Atlanta, Ga. |
| Morgahn Fingall, Tennessee | RS | Gr. | 6-1 | Fairfax, Va. |
| Logan Lednicky, Texas A&M | OPP | So. | 6-3 | Sugar Land, Texas |
