RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Southeastern volleyball program was picked seventh in the 2025 Great American Conference Preseason Poll by the league's coaches, the conference announced Thursday afternoon.
Ouachita Baptist led the way in the poll, as the Tigers were voted to defend their 2024 GAC Tournament Championship with 110 points and six first-place nods. Following closely, Harding received 108 votes, including three first-place tallies, while Oklahoma Baptist (3
rd) and Southwestern Oklahoma State (4
th) garnered 101 and 98 points, respectively.
The Savage Storm returned to the conference tournament last season for the second consecutive year after finishing with an 8-8 mark in league action and a 13-16 overall record. SE claimed the No. 6 seed at the GAC Tournament, which tied its second-highest postseason seeding since joining the league.
Entering 2025, Southeastern returns eight players from a year ago, including Third Team All-GAC recipient
Patience Lewis. The senior libero is also joined by
Maci Morrison,
Noelia Rocha and
Faith Kruebbe, who all played in 22 or more matches last season. Lewis led the GAC in digs in 2024 with 648, while Rocha returns as the team's top kills leader after seeing 238 last season.
In addition to eight returners, head coach
Nicole Solum-Mitchell added 11 newcomers in the offseason, with the additions of five transfers and six freshmen. Among the transfers are
Jaedyn Newman from Division I University of New Orleans, a pair of DII players in
Riley McFarland (Cameron) and
Calista Miller (Arkansas-Fort Smith) and two junior college additions from Kansas City Kansas CC and Panola College in
Nykeriah Allen and
Laura Weatherford.
Southeastern gets the new season started on the road in Wichita Falls, Texas, at the Midwestern State Invitational on Sept. 4-6. SE will play four matches across the three days, starting on Thursday, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. against the hosts Midwestern State.
