BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - The Ohio Valley Conference has released its 2026 Preseason Beach Volleyball Poll and Players to Watch list. Lindenwood was picked to finish fourth in the league, while newcomer
Susanna Beretti was selected as the Lions' Player to Watch.
Chattanooga was picked to win their third consecutive conference championship with 10 first-place votes and 50 total points, with UT Martin tabbed to finish second with a pair of first-place votes and 37 points. Morehead State was projected third with 36 points, followed by Lindenwood with 28 points. Tennessee Tech (17) and Eastern Illinois (12) rounded out the poll at fifth and sixth.
Susanna Beretti was named Lindenwood's Player to Watch after joining the program as a transfer from Quincy, where she was an indoor volleyball Division-II All-American selection last season. She was also a two-time First-Team AVCA All-Region and All-GLVC selection while playing for the Hawks.
The Lions also return four All-OVC selections from last season's team, which is second only behind UTC for most in the conference. The group includes
Katie Bockhorst,
Abby Jacobs,
Annalie McWhorter, and
Nyah Wilson.
The primary number one pair for the Lions to end last season, Jacobs and McWhorter posted a 17-9 record together including 7-3 at the one pair and 10-6 at the twos. Against OVC schools, the duo posted an overall record of 8-5 including a 6-3 record at the ones.
Meanwhile, Wilson and Bockhorst posted a 6-3 record together and were 5-3 against OVC competition. As individuals, Wilson finished the regular season with an 13-13 overall record but went 7-3 in the twos. Bockhorst was 17-10 overall to lead the team in total wins, going 7-3 at the twos and 10-7 in the threes.
In addition,
Kaelyn Putz was named to the OVC All-Freshman team in 2025 after posting a 10-7 overall record, going 9-7 in the threes and 1-0 in the twos.
The Lions posted a 15-14 overall record last season, finishing fourth in the OVC with a league record of 4-6 before advancing to the semifinals of the conference tournament for the second consecutive season.
LU opens the 2026 campaign on Friday at 11:00 a.m. with a nonconference contest against Eastern Illinois at the Missouri State Tournament. The Lions will also face Missouri State on Friday at 3:00 p.m. before Saturday matches against Central Arkansas at 10:00 a.m. and McKendree at 4:00 p.m.
