Kentucky Volleyball picked to win SEC, four on Preseason Team

Kentucky volleyball has been picked by the Southeastern Conference head coaches to win the league title for a sixth year in a row. The SEC announced the news Monday, with the Wildcats earning 10 of 13 first-place votes. Florida received two, with Tennessee also adding one.

To take it a step further, Kentucky placed a league-best four players on the All-SEC Preseason Team. 2021 SEC Libero of the Year Eleanor Beavin, SEC Freshman of the Year Emma Grome, All-American Azhani Tealer and Reagan Rutherford all made the prestigious list.

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Kentucky won the 2021 SEC Volleyball Championship by going 17-1 in league play to secure its fifth-straight conference title. The Wildcats bring back a core of returners and add to it transfers and a strong freshman class that is sure to make a big impact on the season.

The 2022 volleyball season will begin Friday, August 26 as Kentucky hosts Marquette at 7 p.m. ET in Memorial Coliseum. Conference play begins Sept. 24 with a contest against LSU. Television assignments for Kentucky games will be announced at a later date.

Kentucky Volleyball season tickets are on sale now at UKathletics.com.

Preseason Coaches’ Poll

(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)

Place	School	Points
1.	Kentucky (10)	142
2.	Florida (2)	132
3.	Tennessee (1)	118
4.	Arkansas	105
5.	Mississippi State	103
6.	South Carolina	75
7.	Ole Miss	70
8.	LSU	66
9.	Georgia	63
10.	Texas A&M	62
11.	Missouri	31
12.	Auburn	30
13.	Alabama	17

Volleyball Preseason All-SEC Team

Name, School	Pos.	Yr.	Ht.	Hometown
Jillian Gillen, Arkansas	OH	Sr.	5-7	Stilwell, Kan.
Merritt Beason, Florida	RS/OH	So.	6-3	Gardendale, Ala.
Bre Kelley, Florida	MB	So.	6-4	Rockwall, Texas
Eleanor Beavin, Kentucky	L	So.	5-5	Louisville, Ky.
Emma Grome, Kentucky	S	So.	5-9	Loveland, Ohio
Reagan Rutherford, Kentucky	OPP	Jr.	6-0	Missouri City, Texas
Azhani Tealer, Kentucky	MB	Sr.	5-10	Grand Prairie, Texas
Anita Anwusi, LSU	MB	Sr.	6-3	Houston, Texas
Sasha Ratliff, Ole Miss	MB	Jr.	6-2	Atlanta, Ga.
Gabby Waden, Mississippi State	MB/RS	Gr.	5-10	Columbia, S.C.
Anna Dixon, Missouri	OH	Sr.	6-3	Louisburg, Kan.
Jenna Hampton, South Carolina	DS/L	Gr.	5-7	Tampa, Fla.
Morgahn Fingall, Tennessee	RS	Sr.	6-1	Fairfax, Va.
Natalie Hayward, Tennessee	S	Sr.	5-11	Bothell, Wash.
Danielle Mahaffey, Tennessee	MB	Gr.	6-1	Cincinnati, Ohio