(WKYT) – Eastern Kentucky University’s volleyball team is the preseason favorite to capture the 2026 United Athletic Conference Championship.
In addition, senior Emilee Hill was chosen as the UAC Preseason Player of the Year and the Preseason Setter of the Year. Sophomore Cassidy Trahan was picked as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Sophomore Addison Burke joined Hill and Trahan on the 7-member Preseason All-UAC Team.
Hill was a unanimous pick as Preseason Setter of the Year. Trahan was a unanimous selection as Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-UAC Team.
The Colonels earned all eight of the possible first-place votes as the nine coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team. EKU totaled 80 points in the poll, 10 more than second place Central Arkansas (70), who earned one first-place vote.
The 2026 season begins for the Colonels on Friday against South Florida in the Bluegrass Battle hosted in Lexington by Kentucky. EKU will face Utah State on Saturday.
Hill earned AVCA Honorable Mention All-American recognition in 2025, was the 2025 Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year and First Team All-ASUN. The Yorktown, Indiana native had 10 triple-doubles and was a 2-time ASUN Player of the Week. She averaged 5.89 assists, 3.16 digs, 3.12 points, 2.62 kills, 0.51 blocks and 0.22 aces per set in 2025 while posting a .254 attack percentage in 714 total attempts. Hill was the only player in the ASUN to average more than 5.7 assists, 3.0 digs, 2.0 kills and 0.40 blocks per set. She ranked ninth in the ASUN in assists per set.
Trahan was the 2025 ASUN Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-ASUN. She was also a member of the ASUN All-Freshman Team and ASUN All-Tournament Team. The defensive specialist/libero from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania earned ASUN Defensive Player of the Week and ASUN Freshman of the Week honors on Nov. 3. She averaged 4.19 digs and 1.37 assists per set. Trahan led the ASUN in digs per set. She ranked 52nd in the nation in total digs (486) and 78th in digs per set.
Burke was the 2025 ASUN Freshman of the Year, Second Team All-ASUN and selected to the ASUN All-Freshman Team. The outside hitter from Fort Mill, South Carolina was a 2-time ASUN Freshman of the Week pick. She averaged 3.75 points, 3.19 kills, 2.32 digs, 0.38 aces and 0.31 blocks per set while hitting .218 with 1,021 total attacks. Burke was second in the ASUN in aces per set, fifth in points per set and sixth in kills per set. She had a season-high 22 kills at North Alabama, a season-best six aces against IU Indy and finished with 20 kills in a match at Ball State.
Tarleton State (66) was picked third in the Preseason UAC Coaches Poll. North Alabama (57) was fourth and Abilene Christian (52) rounded out the top-5. Texas-Arlington (44) was sixth and Austin Peay (39) placed seventh. Little Rock (33) and West Georgia (27) closed out the poll.
EKU tied for second in the ASUN Conference in 2025 and advanced to the ASUN Tournament championship match. The Colonels have won 20 or more matches in three straight seasons, the first time the program has accomplished that since 2003-05.