LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Kentucky volleyball team has been picked by Southeastern Conference head coaches to win the league for a 10th consecutive season, and five Wildcats were named to the Preseason All-SEC Team, the conference announced Wednesday.
Kentucky received nine first-place votes and 218 total points in the poll, edging Texas, which received six first-place votes and 216 points. Texas A&M received one first-place vote. All 16 SEC head coaches participated and were not permitted to vote for their own programs.
Five Wildcats lead all teams on preseason squad
Kentucky placed five players on the 15-person Preseason All-SEC Team — the most of any program in the conference. Texas and Florida each had two selections.
The five Kentucky selections are:
Lizzie Carr | #15 | Middle Blocker | 5th Year — 2025 Second Team All-SEC; recorded eight matches with 10 or more kills; named to the 2025 All-Lexington Regional Team.
Brooklyn DeLeye | #17 | Outside Hitter | 4th Year — 2024 SEC Player of the Year; 2025 AVCA First Team All-America; three-time All-SEC selection.
Morgan Gaerte | #15 | Opposite | 3rd Year — Transferred from Notre Dame; 2025 First Team All-ACC; averaged 4.64 kills per set last season.
Kassie O’Brien | #6 | Setter | 2nd Year — 2025 AVCA National Freshman of the Year; 2025 AVCA Second Team All-America; 2025 First Team All-SEC.
Molly Tuozzo | #12 | Libero | 4th Year — 2025 AVCA Third Team All-America; two-time All-SEC selection; 2025 SEC Tournament MVP.
2026 season format, tournament site
The 2026 SEC schedule will again follow a single round-robin format, as it did in 2025. A tournament championship will be held in Savannah, Georgia, following the regular season. The winner of the 2026 SEC Volleyball Tournament Presented by Allstate will receive the SEC’s automatic bid into the 2026 NCAA Volleyball Championship.
Brooklyn DeLeye. Lizzie Carr. Kennedy Washington. Kassie O’Brien. Molly Tuzzo. Asia Thigpen. Morgan Gaerte.
Kentucky loses to Louisville 3-1.
Photo By: Grace Smith | UK Athletics(Grace Smith | Grace Smith)
Published: Jul. 29, 2026 at 2:38 PM EDT|Updated: 5 hours ago