Kentucky Volleyball picked to win SEC, four on Preseason Team

On3 imageby:Jack Pilgrim07/11/22

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.

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)

PlaceSchoolPoints
1.Kentucky (10)142
2.Florida (2)132
3.Tennessee (1)118
4.Arkansas105
5.Mississippi State103
6.South Carolina75
7.Ole Miss70
8.LSU66
9.Georgia63
10.Texas A&M62
11.Missouri31
12.Auburn30
13.Alabama17

Volleyball Preseason All-SEC Team

Name, SchoolPos.Yr.Ht.Hometown
Jillian Gillen, ArkansasOHSr.5-7Stilwell, Kan.
Merritt Beason, FloridaRS/OHSo.6-3Gardendale, Ala.
Bre Kelley, FloridaMBSo.6-4Rockwall, Texas
Eleanor Beavin, KentuckyLSo.5-5Louisville, Ky.
Emma Grome, KentuckySSo.5-9Loveland, Ohio
Reagan Rutherford, KentuckyOPPJr.6-0Missouri City, Texas
Azhani Tealer, KentuckyMBSr.5-10Grand Prairie, Texas
Anita Anwusi, LSUMBSr.6-3Houston, Texas
Sasha Ratliff, Ole MissMBJr.6-2Atlanta, Ga.
Gabby Waden, Mississippi StateMB/RSGr.5-10Columbia, S.C.
Anna Dixon, MissouriOHSr.6-3Louisburg, Kan.
Jenna Hampton, South CarolinaDS/LGr.5-7Tampa, Fla.
Morgahn Fingall, TennesseeRSSr.6-1Fairfax, Va.
Natalie Hayward, TennesseeSSr.5-11Bothell, Wash.
Danielle Mahaffey, TennesseeMBGr.6-1Cincinnati, Ohio

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2024-03-28