MOBILE, Ala. — The Spring Hill College women's volleyball team is expected to return to the top of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2026, as the conference released its preseason honors on Wednesday.
The Badgers, who captured the SIAC championship last season, were picked to finish first in the conference's 14-team preseason poll.
Spring Hill also had two players recognized on the preseason All-SIAC teams. Ashlyn Whiteside was selected to the First Team and named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, while Claire Hayes earned Second Team honors.
Spring Hill will begin its title defense when the Badgers travel to the SpringHill Suites Invitational at the UWF Field House in Pensacola, Florida, where its first matchup on August 27th at 11 AM CST against Wheeling University.
Read the Original SIAC Release
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FIRST TEAM
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POSITION
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NAME
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SCHOOL
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CLASS
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HOMETOWN
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Outside Hitter
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Dakotah Holmes*
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Fort Valley State
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Jr.
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Hampton, Ga.
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Outside Hitter
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Karea Copeland*
|
Miles
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So.
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Newnan, Ga.
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Outside Hitter
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Jarianis Perez*
|
Albany State
|
Sr.
|
Jacksonville, Fla.
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Middle Blocker
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Desire' Young*
|
Benedict
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Sr.
|
Aurora, Colo.
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Middle Blocker
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Laila Wheaton
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Kentucky State
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Jr.
|
McKinney, Texas
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Libero
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Ashlyn Whiteside*
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Spring Hill
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Sr.
|
Fairhope, Ala.
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|
Setter
|
Amiyah Walker*
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Savannah State
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Jr.
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Pleasant Grove, Ala.
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– * RETURNING 2025 ALL-SIAC SELECTION
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SECOND TEAM
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POSITION
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NAME
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SCHOOL
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CLASS
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HOMETOWN
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Outside Hitter
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Claire Hayes*
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Spring Hill
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Sr.
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Robertsdale, Ala.
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Outside Hitter
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Maya Hendricks*
|
Central State
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Sr.
|
Columbus, Ohio
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Outside Hitter
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Mia Burgess
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Benedict
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So.
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Columbia, S.C.
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Middle Blocker
|
Saige Bradley
|
Allen
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Sr.
|
Pottstown, Pa.
|
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Middle Blocker
|
Angelic Carter
|
Benedict
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Jr.
|
Biloxi, Miss.
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Libero
|
Jasmine Brantley
|
Tuskegee
|
So.
|
Madison, Ala.
|
|
Setter
|
Autumn James
|
Edward Waters
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Jr.
|
Gainesville, Fla.
|
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– * RETURNING 2025 ALL-SIAC SELECTION
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PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
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NAME
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SCHOOL
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CLASS
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HOMETOWN
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Karea Copeland
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Miles
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So.
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Newnan, Ga.
|
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PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
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NAME
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SCHOOL
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CLASS
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HOMETOWN
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Ashlyn Whiteside
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Spring Hill
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Sr.
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Fairhope, Ala.
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PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
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1. Spring Hill
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2. Fort Valley State
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3. Albany State
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4. Benedict
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5. Savannah State
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6. Central State
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7. Edward Waters
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8. Miles
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9. Kentucky State
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10. Tuskegee
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11. Allen
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12. Clark Atlanta
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13. Lane
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14. LeMoyne-Owen
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