FOREST, Va. – Averett University's women's volleyball comes into 2026 as the 11th-ranked school in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference preseason poll which was revealed on Friday.
Last season's conference champion for the third straight year, Washington and Lee earned 11 first-place votes as the number one team in the ODAC poll. The University of Lynchburg, who lost in the conference semifinals last season, placed second, receiving two first-place votes. Batten University came in third. Conference finalists Bridgewater College rounded out the top four.
Entering her second season as head coach,
Emma Nash will look to lean on senior outside hitters in
Allie Lane, who finished top five in blocks last season in the ODAC, and
Tahani Villines 15th in kills. Junior defensive specialist
Kyleigh Rains also returns, who ranked eighth in digs.
Averett hosts the 32nd annual Cougar Classic to begin on Sept. 4-5, facing off against Bob Jones University, Salem College, and Greensboro College. Conference play starts Sept. 15, when the Cougars will travel north to take on Sweet Briar College.
2026 ODAC Preseason Women's Volleyball Poll
| Rank |
Institution (1st-Place Votes) |
Pts. |
| 1. |
Washington and Lee (11)^ |
143 |
| 2. |
Lynchburg (2) |
126 |
| 3. |
Batten |
124 |
| 4. |
Bridgewater |
116 |
| 5. |
Randolph-Macon |
89 |
| 6. |
Shenandoah |
86 |
| 7. |
Roanoke |
83 |
| 8. |
Guilford |
72 |
| 9. |
Randolph |
52 |
| 10. |
Eastern Mennonite |
46 |
| 11. |
Averett |
38 |
| 12. |
Hollins |
27 |
| 13. |
Sweet Briar |
12 |
^Defending champion
