Carson-Newman Tabbed Favorites in Preseason Beach Volleyball Coaches' Poll; Pairs to Watch Announced
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The Carson-Newman Eagles have been picked as the 2026 South Atlantic Conference beach volleyball preseason favorite, the league office announced today. Carson-Newman received four first-place votes from the conference's head beach volleyball coaches and 54 total points.
The Eagles enter the season as the defending SAC regular season and tournament champions after going a perfect 12-0 in conference play during the 2025 regular season. Carson-Newman captured the first-ever SAC Beach Volleyball Regular Season Championship and went on to win the inaugural SAC Beach Volleyball Tournament Championship, marking a historic first year for the sport under conference sponsorship.
Tusculum was voted in at No. 2 with one first-place vote and 49 total points, while Erskine and Emmanuel tied for third with one first-place vote for Erskine and 45 points each.
Catawba earned the No. 5 position with 41 points, followed by Wingate at No. 6 with 36 points.
In addition to the preseason coaches' poll, the SAC announced its 2026 Beach Volleyball Pairs to Watch.
Carson-Newman's Paige Halcrow and Trinity Hafey, along with Emerson Ahsmuhs and Ava Potts, headline the returning champions. Tusculum's pairs of Brynn Smith and Dasha Nikolaeva, and Hannah Marsh and Sofia Vega Barrantes, were also recognized as duos to watch entering the season.
Erskine's Abby Platt and Reka Meilinger, along with Elly Davis and Rinnah Roberts, earned preseason recognition, while Emmanuel's duos of Faith Kelly and Leah Van WynGarden, and Kaleigh Morawietz and MaisyBeth Farrow, were selected as players to watch.
Catawba's Emma Christensen and Marcella Hermont, along with Sidney Kettelkamp and Emily Dudley, and Wingate's Amelia Talbott and Ella Harm, and Lilou Thieme and Kate Beezer, round out the preseason pairs to watch.
Competition for the 2026 beach volleyball season will begin in early February. For a full schedule of matches, visit www.thesac.com.
2026 SAC Beach Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Rank | School (First Place Votes) | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carson-Newman (4) | 54 |
| 2 | Tusculum (1) | 49 |
| 3t | Erskine (1) | 45 |
| 3t | Emmanuel | 45 |
| 5 | Catawba | 41 |
| 6 | Wingate | 36 |
2026 SAC Beach Volleyball Preseason Pairs to Watch
Carson-Newman: Paige Halcrow / Trinity Hafey; Emerson Ahsmuhs / Ava Potts
Catawba: Emma Christensen / Marcella Hermont; Sidney Kettelkamp / Emily Dudley
Emmanuel: Faith Kelly / Leah Van WynGarden; Kaleigh Morawietz / MaisyBeth Farrow
Erskine: Abby Platt / Reka Meilinger; Elly Davis / Rinnah Roberts
Tusculum: Brynn Smith / Dasha Nikolaeva; Hannah Marsh / Sofia Vega Barrantes
Wingate: Amelia Talbott / Ella Harm; Lilou Thieme / Kate Beezer