UK tabbed preseason favorite for 2019 volleyball season
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Kentucky, the defending Southeastern Conference Champion, was tabbed to win the 2019 SEC volleyball title, according to the SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The Wildcats, who finished 26-5 overall and 18-0 in the SEC last season, received 11 of the 13 first-place votes and 143 points in the preseason poll. Florida received two-first place votes and 132 points to finish second in the poll.
Tennessee took third place with 118 points, while Missouri seized fourth place with 113 points. South Carolina claimed fifth place with 97 points, and Texas A&M took sixth with 88 points. LSU received 82 points to finish seventh, followed by Georgia (58 points) in eighth and Arkansas (52) in ninth. Ole Miss (49) took 10th place, followed by Alabama (46), Auburn (20) and Mississippi State (16) to round out the poll.
Ten student-athletes were selected to the 2019 Preseason Volleyball All-SEC Team. The squad includes: Rachael Kramer from Florida; Gabby Curry, Leah Edmond and Madison Lilley from Kentucky; Taylor Bannister from LSU; Emily Stroup from Ole Miss; Kylie Deberg from Missouri; Mikayla Shields from South Carolina; Tessa Grubbs from Tennessee; and Hollann Hans from Texas A&M.
The 2019 SEC volleyball season will begin on Friday, August 30, and conference play is set to get underway on Tuesday, September 24.
(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
| Place | School | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kentucky (11) | 143 |
| 2. | Florida (2) | 132 |
| 3. | Tennessee | 118 |
| 4. | Missouri | 113 |
| 5. | South Carolina | 97 |
| 6. | Texas A&M | 88 |
| 7. | LSU | 82 |
| 8. | Georgia | 58 |
| 9. | Arkansas | 52 |
| 10. | Ole Miss | 49 |
| 11. | Alabama | 46 |
| 12. | Auburn | 20 |
| 13. | Mississippi State | 16 |
| Name, School | Pos. | Yr. | Ht. | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rachael Kramer, Florida | MB | Sr. | 6-8 | Phoenix, Ariz. |
| Gabby Curry, Kentucky | Libero | So. | 5-8 | Buford, Ga. |
| Leah Edmond, Kentucky | OH | Jr. | 6-2 | Lexington, Ky. |
| Madison Lilley, Kentucky | S | So. | 5-11 | Overland Park, Kan. |
| Taylor Bannister, LSU | RS | Jr. | 6-5 | Missouri City, Texas |
| Emily Stroup, Ole Miss | OH | Sr. | 6-0 | Fargo, N.D. |
| Kylie Deberg, Missouri | OH | Jr. | 6-4 | Hudson, Iowa |
| Mikayla Shields, South Carolina | RS/OPP | Sr. | 6-0 | Orlando, Fla. |
| Tessa Grubbs, Tennessee | OH | Sr. | 6-3 | Tega Cay, S.C. |
| Hollann Hans, Texas A&M | OH | Jr. | 6-1 | Corpus Christi, Texas |