MOUNT BERRY, Ga. – After capturing their fifth consecutive SAA Championship in 2025, the Berry College volleyball team was picked second in the 2026 SAA Preseason Poll, as announced by the conference Thursday afternoon.
 
Last season, the Vikings embarked on possibly the greatest season in program history. The team finished the year 28-8 (10-4 SAA), grabbed the three seed in the SAA Tournament, and then dominated the competition by sweeping Rhodes, Southwestern, and No. 8 Trinity to secure an automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals.
 
In the regionals, they defeated Washington and Lee, Virginia Wesleyan, and Christopher Newport to advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever. However, the team took it one step further by upsetting the previously undefeated No. 1 East Texas Baptist 3-1 to advance to the Final Four.
 
Caitlyn Moriarty returns for her 11^th season as head coach, and much of the Final Four roster remains intact as the Vikings have their eyes set on another deep postseason run.
 
Three of the team's four All-SAA athletes from last season are returning in Madie Whitehead, Ava Brovet, and Keira Kruk. Whitehead was named First Team All-SAA after leading the conference in kills (482), kills per set (2.77), and points (571). She was also named a CSC Academic All-American and to the AVCA All-American team alongside Brovet.
 
Brovet took the conference by storm in her freshman season, leading the SAA in assists (1,273) and assists per set (9.95) by wide margin. She won the Rookie of the Year award, was named First Team All-SAA, and took home the AVCA National Freshman of the Year Award for her play.
 
Lastly, Kruk finished second on the Vikings in kills (370) and kills per set (2.89) and third in points (402), earning All-SAA Honorable Mention status. She also stepped for the Vikings in the SAA Tournament by winning the Most Valuable Player award.

Andrea Hurt and Cali Armstead also return to the team after strong seasons of their own. Hurt led the Vikings in digs with 615 and earned a spot on the SAA All-Tournament Team, while Armstead had a strong freshman season with 164 kills and 120 blocks.
 
Despite all the returning star power, Trinity earned the top spot in the preseason poll with 69 points and five first place votes. Berry finished just one point behind with 68 points and four first place votes.
 
Southwestern was picked third with 58 points, Centre was picked fourth with 46 points, and Sewanee earned fifth with 43 points. Voting was conducted among the SAA's nine head coaches.
 
2026 VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL RESULTS
1. Trinity - 69 (5)
2. Berry - 68 (4)
3. Southwestern - 58
4. Centre - 46
5. Sewanee - 43
6. Millsaps - 33
7. Rhodes - 32
8. Maryville - 30
9. Oglethorpe – 17
 
The 2026 SAA Volleyball Championship is slated for November 12-14 in San Antonio, Texas, hosted by Trinity University