RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - Harding University earned four first-place votes and 114 total points to top the 2026 Great American Conference Preseason Volleyball Coaches' Poll, edging defending tournament champion Oklahoma Baptist (111 points, six first-place votes).
2025 regular-season champion Ouachita Baptist claimed the remaining two first-place votes to finish third with 96 points, followed by Southwestern Oklahoma State in fourth (94 points) and Arkansas Tech in fifth (86 points). East Central and Henderson State rounded out the top half of the league in a tie for sixth with 62 points.
Southern Nazarene (46), Southern Arkansas (43), and Southeastern Oklahoma State (42) fill the eighth through tenth positions, while Northwestern Oklahoma State (24) and Arkansas-Monticello (12) complete the balloting.
The top eight teams in the league's regular season standings qualify for the November 12-14 Great American Conference tournament at Fire Lake Arena in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Play begins Thursday, August 27 with five non-conference matches.
All-GAC First Team Returnees:
MB: Leah Gardner (Ouachita, Sr.)
RS: Henley Hooks (Arkansas Tech, Sr.)
OH: Rylee Unruh (Oklahoma Baptist, Jr.)
S: Olivia Wiedower (Harding, Jr.)
OH: Kate Wright (Southern Nazarene, Soph.)
All-GAC Second Team Returnees:
MH: Katja Blanchat (Southwestern Oklahoma State, Soph.)
S: Emily Boyer (Oklahoma Baptist, Sr.)
MH: Emily Hernandez (Arkansas Tech, Soph.)
OH: Savannah Meyer (Arkansas Tech, Sr.)
L: Kaylon Partain (Henderson State, Sr.)
All-GAC Honorable Mention Returnees:
MH: Ivanny Blackwood (Northwestern Oklahoma State, Jr.)
OH: Brinklee Dauenhauer (Southern Arkansas, Sr.)
OH: Ella Drake (Harding, Jr.)
OH: Faiana Halatoa (East Central, Jr.)
L: Kylie Kisgen (Ouachita, Sr.)
S: Emily Pena (East Central, Sr.)
L: Jada Permenter (Southwestern Oklahoma State, Sr.)
S: Mackenzie Sims (Southwestern Oklahoma State, Soph.)
OH: Kailey Thedford (Ouachita, Sr.)
2026 GAC VOLLEYBALL COACHES' POLL
| Rank |
Team |
Points (1st-Place Votes) |
| 1 |
Harding |
114 (4) |
| 2 |
Oklahoma Baptist |
111 (6) |
| 3 |
Ouachita Baptist |
96 (2) |
| 4 |
Southwestern Oklahoma State |
94 |
| 5 |
Arkansas Tech |
86 |
| t6 |
East Central |
62 |
| t6 |
Henderson State |
62 |
| 8 |
Southern Nazarene |
46 |
| 9 |
Southern Arkansas |
43 |
| 10 |
Southeastern Oklahoma State |
42 |
| 11 |
Northwestern Oklahoma State |
24 |
| 12 |
Arkansas-Monticello |
12 |