JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – FGCU has been chosen as the favorites ahead of the 2026 Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) Volleyball season, while Jacksonville and North Florida earned individual accolades after making postseason appearances last season.
The Eagles were selected first by the leauges eight head coaches ahead of the 2026 season. Last year, FGCU posted a 19-9 overall record and a 13-3 conference record to capture its ninth regular-season crown.
Jacksonville's Haley Yount was named Preseason Player and Defensive Player of the Year. Yount recorded 206 kills, 816 attacks, and 57 digs last season, helping lead the Dolphins, who were chosen second in this years poll to the semifinals last season. She notched 122 total blocks, 13 of which were solo and recorded just two errors on the season. She holds the second-best hitting percentage of all returning players in the country from last season with a .454 mark.
Sofia Dawson was named Preseason Setter of the Year. Last season, Dawson started all 31 matches for the Ospreys and ranked fifth in the conference with 871 assists (7.02 per set). She recorded 10 double-doubles on the year and career-highs of 57 assists and 14 digs against Jacksonville, as well as a 41-assist, 24-dig performance against Stetson. After a 2025 semifinal apperance, North Florida was selected fourth in this years poll.
2026 Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll
1. FGCU (6) 62
2. Jacksonville (1) 54
3. Lipscomb 46
4. North Florida 39
5. Queens (1) 38
6. Stetson 19
7. Bellarmine 16
8. West Florida 14
First-place votes in parentheses
2026 Volleyball Preseason All-ASUN Team
Payton Parsons, Bellarmine
Julija Grubisic Cabo, FGCU
Claire Mrukowski, Jacksonville
Haley Yount, Jacksonville
Kendall Newbold, North Florida
Elizabeth Layson, Queens
Zuzanna Bury, Stetson
Vitoria Stedile, Stetson
* a tie in voting resulted in a 12-person Preseason All-ASUN Team