NASHVILLE – A year after outperforming the Gulf South Conference preseason poll and advancing to the league championship match, expectations have changed for the Trevecca Nazarene University volleyball team.

The Gulf South Conference coaches picked Trevecca No. 2 in the 2026 GSC Preseason Coaches' Poll, giving the Trojans 71 points and two of the 10 first-place votes.

2026 GSC VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL 

1	UAH	79 (7)
2	Trevecca Nazarene Univ.	71 (2)
3	Lee Univ.	65 (1)
4	Univ. of Montevallo	51
5	Christian Brothers Univ.	44
6	Valdosta State	43
7	Mississippi Christian Univ.	41
8	Univ. West Alabama	23
9	Union Univ.	18
10	AUM	15

*As voted on by the GSC Head Coaches

Senior middle blocker Katilyn Grant added another piece of preseason recognition for Trevecca with her selection to the 2026 GSC Preseason All-Conference Team.

Grant returns after earning AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, AVCA South Region, and Gulf South All-Conference First Team honors during Trevecca's historic 2025 season.

2026 GSC VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

Katilyn Grant	Sr.	MB	Trevecca Nazarene Univ.
Esthefany Rabit	Sr.	MB	Lee Univ.
Sydney Durban	So.	DS	UAH
Rhaia Davey	Sr.	MH	Mississippi Christian Univ.
Sophia Lippert	So.	OH	Lee Univ.
Mary Grace Bundrant	Sr.	MB	UAH
Payton Danley	Jr.	MB/RS	Lee Univ.
Carleiny Morillo	Sr.	S	Christian Brothers Univ.
Eimy Negron Domenech	Sr.	L	Valdosta State Univ.

The conference also placed two Trojans on its 2026 GSC Newcomers to Watch List. Sophomore setter Brynne Krangnes, a transfer from the University of Evansville, and junior right-side Avery Ray, a transfer from Morehead State, were selected by the league's head coaches.

2026 GSC VOLLEYBALL NEWCOMERS WATCH LIST 

Brynne Krangnes	So.	S	Collierville, Tenn.
Avery Ray	Jr.	RS	Soddy Daisy, Tenn.

Trevecca's No. 2 position puts the Trojans just behind preseason favorite UAH, which collected 79 points and seven first-place votes. Lee received the remaining first-place vote and is third with 65 points. Montevallo is fourth with 51 points, while Christian Brothers rounds out the preseason top five with 44.

Valdosta State is sixth with 43 points, followed by Mississippi Christian with 41, West Alabama with 23, Union with 18 and AUM with 15.

FROM NO. 6 TO NO. 2

The elevated expectations follow a 2025 season in which Trevecca was picked sixth in the GSC preseason poll before finishing 22-9 overall and 15-5 in conference play.

The Trojans earned the No. 2 seed in the GSC Championship and advanced to the conference title match for the first time.

Trevecca's 22 victories were the program's most since 2012, while the 15 conference wins established a program record.

The Trojans opened GSC play 9-0, the best conference start in program history, and put together a 10-match winning streak that tied the 2002 team for the longest in school history.

Trevecca's regular season run included a sweep of UAH in Huntsville before the Trojans met the Chargers again in the GSC semifinals.

Trevecca won the postseason meeting in five sets, advancing to the championship match against top-seeded West Florida.

The run completed Trevecca's second season in the Gulf South and helped move the Trojans from a preseason No. 6 selection in 2025 to No. 2 entering 2026.

GRANT HEADLINES THE RETURNING CORE

KATILYN GRANT: Grant gives head coach Emily Moore an established centerpiece at the net and enters 2026 with preseason All-GSC recognition following one of the most decorated seasons by a Trojan in the NCAA era.

Grant produced 363 kills, a .337 attack percentage and 106 blocks in 2025.

She led Trevecca in attack percentage and blocks and ranked third in the GSC in hitting percentage, points per set, and total kills.

Grant also set a Trevecca single season record with 27 solo blocks.

Her season resulted in AVCA All-American Honorable Mention, AVCA South Region, and GSC First Team honors.

Grant enters the 2026 season with 799 career kills and 268 career blocks, including her two seasons at Mars Hill before joining the Trojans.

LILY VANBEBBER: Junior libero/defensive specialist Lily Vanbebber returns after rewriting two Trevecca defensive records in 2025.

Vanbebber finished with a team-high 562 digs, breaking the previous single-season record of 560. Her 4.72 digs per set also established a Trevecca single-season record.

She earned GSC All-Tournament and CSC Academic All-District honors and enters the season with 804 career digs, 180 assists and 76 service aces.

KAYLA BULLARD: Junior Kayla Bullard provides another experienced all-around option.

Bullard led Trevecca with 44 service aces last season while adding 144 kills and 303 digs.

She finished fourth in the GSC in total aces and fifth in aces per set and earned CSC Academic All-District recognition.

Bullard also delivered one of her biggest performances of the season when Trevecca needed it most, producing nine kills, four aces, 14 digs and three blocks in the GSC semifinal victory over UAH.

ISABELLA SHERROD: Sherrod returns after collecting 301 digs and 28 aces as a sophomore.

Sherrod reached double figures in digs 15 times, including a season-high 22 against Lee, and enters 2026 with 447 career digs and 55 aces.

Trevecca also brings back several players who gained experience during last season's championship run.

EMMA SCHNITZER: Schnitzer appeared in 19 matches and 54 sets as a freshman, finishing with 57 kills and 31 digs. She recorded a season-high 10 kills against Valdosta State and produced at least seven kills in six matches.

JORDAN HUNT: Hunt appeared in 19 matches during her freshman season at middle and right side.

CHARLEE YOUNG: Young played in 25 matches and 74 sets.

MEGAN ELLIS: Ellis gained experience at setter in 15 matches and 33 sets.

ANNA LOTT: Senior right-side Anna Lott also returns for her second season with the Trojans.

The returning group gives Moore nine players from the team that reached the GSC championship match while a seven-player newcomer class adds depth throughout the roster.

KRANGNES, RAY EARN GSC NEWCOMER RECOGNITION

Krangnes and Ray give Trevecca two representatives on the GSC Newcomers to Watch List and bring NCAA Division I experience to the roster.

BRYNNE KRANGNES: Krangnes, a 5-foot-8 sophomore setter from Collierville, Tenn., transfers from Evansville.

She appeared in ten matches and 23 sets as a freshman with the Purple Aces, producing 35 assists and 13 digs.

At Collierville High School, Krangnes totaled 963 assists as a senior, was twice named to the District 15 All-District Team and helped Collierville reach the final eight of the TSSAA State Tournament in each of her three seasons.

AVERY RAY: Ray, a 5-foot-10 junior from Soddy Daisy, Tenn., arrives from Morehead State.

She appeared in 15 matches and 38 sets during her first collegiate season, totaling 22 kills and seven blocks. During her most recent season, Ray hit .333 with five kills in seven sets.

Ray was a two-time TSSAA Division II All-Region selection at Chattanooga Christian School.

FIVE FRESHMEN JOIN THE TROJANS

Five freshmen join Krangnes and Ray in Trevecca's 2026 newcomer class.

ZOIE ELROD: Elrod, a 5-foot-7 defensive specialist/libero from Bowling Green, Ky., brings an extensive athletic résumé from South Warren High School.

Elrod produced 306 kills, 75 aces, 37 blocks and 231 digs as a senior and completed her high school career with 822 kills, 561 digs, 161 aces and 60 blocks.

A multi-sport athlete, Elrod also competed in track and field, winning a regional championship in the 300-meter hurdles while also finishing as regional runner-up in the 100-meter hurdles and high jump.

CAILYN KYES: Setter Cailyn Kyes arrives from Spain Park High School in Birmingham, Ala., after producing 1,144 assists as a senior and 2,904 during her career.

Kyes was a three-time All-State First Team selection and completed her high school career holding school records for assists per match, season assists and career assists.

BRIANNA BOWMAN: Bowman, a 5-foot-10 outside/right side from Sullivans Island, S.C., recorded 378 kills, 32 blocks and 26 aces at Oceanside Collegiate Academy.

Bowman was a three-time All-Region selection and helped Oceanside win two region championships and finish State Runner Up twice.

MARY FRANCL: Six-foot outside/right side Mary Francl joins the Trojans from Saint Viator High School in Elk Grove Village, Ill.

Francl totaled 172 kills with a .244 attack percentage and added 46 blocks. She helped Saint Viator win back-to-back regional championships and a sectional championship.

KAYLEE TALMADGE: At 6-foot-3, Kaylee Talmadge adds size at middle and right side.

The Sharpsburg, Ga., product earned Georgia High School Association All-Region First Team recognition and AAU All-American honors while competing with M2 Volleyball Club. Talmadge was also named to the AVCA Phenom Watch List.

THE RACE AT THE TOP OF THE GSC

Trevecca's schedule gives the Trojans home-and-away meetings with each of the other four teams selected in the GSC preseason top five.

The most anticipated matchup may be with preseason No. 1 UAH.

Since 2000, UAH leads the all-time series 14-5, but Trevecca has won two of the last three meetings.

That includes the most recent matchup, Trevecca's five-set victory over the Chargers in the 2025 GSC semifinals that sent the Trojans to the championship match.

The teams meet first at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, in Trojan Fieldhouse before Trevecca visits Huntsville on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Preseason No. 3 Lee and Trevecca meet twice during October.

The Trojans travel to Cleveland on Saturday, Oct. 3, before Lee visits Trojan Fieldhouse on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Lee leads the series 23-5 since 2000, but Trevecca has won three of the last five. The teams split their meetings last season, with each winning on its home court.

Trevecca owns a 5-2 advantage against preseason No. 4 Montevallo since 2000 and has won four consecutive meetings in the series.

The Falcons visit Nashville on Tuesday, Oct. 6, before Trevecca travels to Montevallo on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Trevecca also holds a 6-5 advantage in its series with preseason No. 5 Christian Brothers and has won five of the last six meetings.

CBU visits Trojan Fieldhouse on Saturday, Sept. 26. Trevecca makes the return trip to Memphis on Friday, Oct. 23.

THE ROAD TO GSC PLAY

The regular season begins with the Ray Thrasher Classic on the Hill.

Trevecca faces Lincoln Memorial at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28.

The Trojans play twice Saturday, Aug. 29, facing Ohio Dominican at 12:30 p.m. and Shorter at 5:30 p.m.

Trevecca then heads to Huntsville for three matches at the UAH Classic.

The Trojans face Harding and Mars Hill on Friday, Sept. 4, before meeting Spring Hill on Saturday, Sept. 5.

Another three-match road weekend follows in South Florida.

Trevecca faces Nova Southeastern and Lynn on Friday, Sept. 11, before meeting Palm Beach Atlantic on Saturday, Sept. 12.

GSC PLAY OPENS ON THE ROAD

Trevecca begins Gulf South Conference play at AUM at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18.

The GSC home opener follows four days later and brings the top two teams in the preseason poll together at Trojan Fieldhouse.

Preseason No. 1 UAH visits the Hill at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22.

Trevecca remains home that weekend, hosting Union at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, and Christian Brothers at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26.

The Trojans step outside conference play one final time Sept. 29 when former G-MAC rival Kentucky Wesleyan visits Nashville.

October includes the road meeting with Lee on Oct. 3, a home match with Montevallo on Oct. 6 and road matches at West Alabama and Mississippi Christian on Oct. 9-10.

Trevecca visits UAH on Oct. 13 before returning home to face Valdosta State on Oct. 16 and AUM on Oct. 17.

The Trojans travel to Christian Brothers and Union on Oct. 23-24 and visit Montevallo on Oct. 27 before returning home for their second meeting with Lee on Oct. 31.

HOMECOMING CONNECTS TREVECCA VOLLEYBALL PAST AND PRESENT

Trevecca's final regular-season home weekend will also be part of the university's 2026 Homecoming celebration and its 125th anniversary year.

The Trojans host Mississippi Christian at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, before facing West Alabama at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, in Trojan Fieldhouse.

Saturday will have added significance for the Trevecca volleyball program.

Former Trojan Crissie Cunha Lima will be inducted into the Trevecca Athletic Hall of Fame that morning as part of the 2026 induction class.

Cunha Lima will become the next Trevecca volleyball player inducted into the Hall of Fame.

She is one of 10 members of the 2026 class, the largest single induction class in the history of the Trevecca Athletic Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame ceremony begins at 9 a.m. Saturday in the Boone Convocation Center before the current Trojans take the court four hours later against West Alabama.

The weekend provides a connection between Trevecca volleyball's history and a current program coming off its first appearance in the Gulf South Conference championship match.

GSC CHAMPIONSHIP

The 2026 Gulf South Conference Volleyball Championship is scheduled for Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 12-14. The regular season champion will host the entire single elimination eight-team championship.

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