SEC Releases 2026 Preseason All-SEC Volleyball Team and Coaches' Poll Rankings
The Southeastern Conference announced its 2026 preseason volleyball selections on Wednesday. A 15‑player All‑SEC team was named, featuring Texas seniors Torrey Stafford and Cari Spears, Auburn junior Lauren Dreves, Florida juniors Jordyn Byrd and Alec Rothe, Tennessee setter Caroline Kerr, and other standouts from Kentucky, Georgia, LSU, and more.
In the accompanying coaches' poll, Kentucky received the most votes (nine first‑place votes) and topped the rankings with 218 points. Texas finished second with six first‑place votes and 216 points, while Texas A&M placed third with one first‑place vote and 191 points. Florida was picked fourth, Tennessee fifth, Georgia sixth, Auburn seventh, LSU eighth, and the remaining spots were filled by Missouri, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Alabama and Arkansas.
The Longhorns open their season on Aug. 22 at the AVCA First Serve in Milwaukee, and the other teams have announced their opening matches for the 2026 campaign.
Entities: Caroline Kerr · Jordyn Byrd · Kentucky Wildcats · Lauren Dreves · Southeastern Conference (SEC) · Texas Longhorns · Torrey Stafford
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Lauren Dreves of Auburn was named to the 2026 preseason All‑SEC women's volleyball team. (849cb573-e96a-4a20-b75c-78ae78be8a17)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Texas was projected to finish second in the SEC preseason poll with 216 points and six first‑place votes. (e3a6ec25-d1d5-4f16-be57-e75d70fedcca)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Torrey Stafford of Texas was named to the 2026 preseason All‑SEC women's volleyball team. (e3a6ec25-d1d5-4f16-be57-e75d70fedcca)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Caroline Kerr of Tennessee was named to the 2026 preseason All‑SEC women's volleyball team. (882088b7-b395-4e5d-9270-7f1b083f45fc)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Jordyn Byrd of Florida was named to the 2026 preseason All‑SEC women's volleyball team. (a700677c-6a0c-4e97-8ff0-f8aaa0b04bfc)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Cari Spears of Texas was named to the 2026 preseason All‑SEC women's volleyball team. (e3a6ec25-d1d5-4f16-be57-e75d70fedcca)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Kentucky was voted the preseason favorite in the SEC women’s volleyball coaches’ poll with 218 points and nine first‑place votes. (a700677c-6a0c-4e97-8ff0-f8aaa0b04bfc)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Alec Rothe of Florida was named to the 2026 preseason All‑SEC women's volleyball team. (a700677c-6a0c-4e97-8ff0-f8aaa0b04bfc)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Texas was second in the poll with six first‑place votes and 216 points. (preseason poll results)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Tennessee was selected fifth in the SEC preseason poll. (SEC poll ranking)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Texas A&M placed third with one first‑place vote and 191 points. (SEC coaches' poll)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Lauren Dreves of Auburn was named to the 2026 Preseason All-SEC volleyball team. (All-SEC team announcement)