Kentucky is the preseason favorite for 2021 SEC season
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Aug. 18, 2021) - Kentucky, the defending National Champion, was tabbed the preseason favorite for the 2021 SEC volleyball season, according to the SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The Wildcats, who finished 24-1 overall and 19-1 in the SEC last season, received seven of the 13 first-place votes and 139 points in the preseason poll. Florida received six-first place votes and 138 points to finish second in the poll.
LSU took third place with 118 points, while Tennessee claimed fourth place with 100 points. Arkansas placed fifth with 98 points, and South Carolina took sixth with 93 points. Texas A&M garnered 77 points for seventh place, followed by Georgia and Missouri (67) tied for eighth place. Alabama (43) took 10th place, followed by Ole Miss (32), Mississippi State (30) and Auburn (12) to round out the poll.
Nine student-athletes were selected to the 2021 Preseason Volleyball All-SEC Team. The squad includes Florida's T'ara Ceasar, Lauren Forte, Thayer Hall and Marlie Monserez; Kentucky's Madi Skinner, Alli Stumler and Azhani Tealer; and LSU's Taylor Bannister and Kylie Deberg.
The 2021 SEC volleyball season will begin on Friday, August 27, and conference play is set to get underway on Wednesday, September 22.
| Place | School | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kentucky (7) | 139 |
| 2. | Florida (6) | 138 |
| 3. | LSU | 118 |
| 4. | Tennessee | 100 |
| 5. | Arkansas | 98 |
| 6. | South Carolina | 93 |
| 7. | Texas A&M | 77 |
| 8. | Georgia | 67 |
| Missouri | 67 | |
| 10. | Alabama | 43 |
| 11. | Ole Miss | 32 |
| 12. | Mississippi State | 30 |
| 13. | Auburn | 12 |
| Name, School | Pos. | Yr. | Ht. | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T'ara Ceasar, Florida | OH | R-Sr. | 6-1 | Panama City, Fla. |
| Lauren Forte, Florida | MB | R-Sr. | 6-3 | Tempe, Ariz. |
| Thayer Hall, Florida | OH | Sr. | 6-3 | Spartanburg, S.C. |
| Marlie Monserez, Florida | S | Sr. | 6-0 | Windermere, Fla. |
| Madi Skinner, Kentucky | OH | So. | 6-2 | Katy, Texas |
| Alli Stumler, Kentucky | OH | Sr. | 6-1 | Floyds Knob, Ind. |
| Azhani Tealer, Kentucky | MB | Jr. | 5-10 | Grand Prairie, Texas |
| Taylor Bannister, LSU | RS | Sr. | 6-5 | Missouri City, Texas |
| Kylie Deberg, LSU | OH | Gr. | 6-4 | Hudson, Iowa |