Volleyball Picked Second in Sun Belt East Preseason Poll

NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference introduced on Wednesday afternoon that James Madison volleyball was picked second in East Division of the 2025 Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

JMU was one in all 4 groups to obtain first-place votes within the East Division, selecting up two votes from the league’s coaches. Georgia Southern was picked because the overwhelming favourite, tallying 9 first-place votes, whereas Coastal Carolina (2) and App State (1) additionally garnered votes.

Texas State, the 2024 Sun Belt Champions, was chosen as the favourite within the West. The Dukes and Bobcats will face off Nov. 13-14 in Harrisonburg.

Defensive specialist Julia McNeley (Louisville, Ky./Sacred Heart) headlines a gaggle of seven returners from 2024, because the senior completed second on the group in digs (252) and dig common (2.74). The Dukes additionally welcomed eight newcomers to The Valley forward of the 2025 season, together with 5 freshmen and three transfers.

JMU opens its season on Friday, Aug. 29 in opposition to No. 17 Missouri in Fort Myers, Fla., on the campus of Florida Gulf Coast. The Dukes may even play Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday Aug. 30, and Sunday, Aug. 31. 

2025 Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Preseason Awards 
Preseason Player of the Year
Jalyn Stout, Coastal Carolina (Jr., S, Gainesville, Fla.)

Preseason Setter of the Year
Anna Loberg, South Alabama (RS Sr., S, Geneva, Ill.)

Preseason Libero of the Year
Sunni Sheppard, Southern Miss (Jr., L, Brandon, Miss.)

Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
Jalyn Stout, Coastal Carolina (Jr. S, Gainesville, Fla.)
Reagan Barth, Georgia Southern (Jr., OH, Lenexa, Kan.)
Samantha Wunsch, Texas State (RS Jr., OH, Austin, Texas)
Jade Defraeye, Texas State (Sr., MB, Dunkirk, France)
Maya Winterhoff, App State (Sr., MB, Charlottesville, Va.)
Sarah Gooch, South Alabama (Jr., OH, Apopka, Fla.)
Daedrianna Cail, Arkansas State (Sr., MB, Marion, Ark.)
Anna Loberg, South Alabama (RS Sr., S, Geneva, Ill.)
Kaitlin Whitlock, Arkansas State (Jr., OH, San Antonio, Texas)
Amiah Butler, Troy (Sr., OH, Pensacola, Fla.)
Addison Heidemann, App State (RS Sr., S, Diller, Neb.)
Kirsten Barrett, Georgia Southern (Sr., S, Cleveland, Ohio)

2025 Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll 
East Division
1. Georgia Southern (9) – 87
2. James Madison (2) – 77
3. Coastal Carolina (2) – 75
4. App State (1) – 61
5. Georgia State – 44
6. Old Dominion – 27
7. Marshall – 21

West Division
1. Texas State (11) – 95
2. Arkansas State (3) – 81
3. South Alabama – 68
4. Troy – 54
5. Louisiana – 42
6. Southern Miss – 38
7. ULM – 14

Parentheses point out first-place votes