The 2024 SEC Freshman of the Year is one of 15 student-athletes selected by the SEC head coaches.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Southeastern Conference announced Tuesday its 2025 Preseason Volleyball Team, with Florida’s Jaela Auguste earning a spot on the 15-player team selected by the league’s head coaches.
Auguste, the 2024 SEC and AVCA Southeast Region Freshman of the Year, earns her first preseason honor and is one of just three middle blockers named to the list. The Spring, Texas native started in 29 of Florida’s 31 matches last season and finished her rookie campaign with a .404 hitting %, 272.0 points, 210 kills, 118.0 blocks (112 assists and 6 solo), nine digs and one assist.
Florida was also picked to finish fifth in the conference, receiving 169 points in the SEC Coaches Poll. Kentucky was selected as the preseason favorite with nine of the 16 first-place votes and 218 total points. Texas followed closely with six first-place votes and 216 points, while Texas A&M earned one first-place vote and finished third in the poll with 195 points.
The Gators will open their 2025 campaign in Lincoln, Nebraska, at the AVCA First Serve event, taking on Stanford on Aug. 22 and Pitt on Aug. 24. SEC play begins in late September, with Florida hosting Mississippi State in the conference opener on Sept. 26.
This season also marks the return of the SEC Volleyball Tournament, set for Nov. 21-25 at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Ga.
Florida returns 12 players from last season, including Auguste and setters Taylor Parks and Alexis Stucky. The Gators welcome two transfers and three freshmen to the 2025 roster, which is now under the direction of first-year head coach Ryan Theis, along with assistant coaches Abby Gilleland, Eysha Ambler and Ryan Walthall.
2025 Volleyball Preseason All-SEC Team
Name, School
Pos.
Ht.
Yr.
Hometown
Jaela Auguste, Florida
MB
6-2
So.
Spring, Texas
Brooke Bultema, Kentucky
MB
6-3
R-So.
Cincinnati, Ohio
Brooklyn Deleye, Kentucky
OH
6-2
Jr.
Topeka, Kan.
Eva Hudson, Kentucky
OH
6-1
Sr.
Ft. Wayne, Ind.
Molly Tuzzo, Kentucky
L
5-7
Jr.
The Woodlands, Texas
Jurnee Robinson, LSU
OH
6-1
Jr.
Simpsonville, S.C.
Nia Washington, LSU
OH
5-10
Sr.
New Orleans, La.
Mokihana Tufono, Ole Miss
S
5-10
Sr.
Aiea, Hawaii
Maya Sands, Missouri
L
5-7
Sr.
Rock Falls, Ill.
Alexis Shelton, Oklahoma
PIN
6-2
Sr.
Charlotte, N.C.
Caroline Kerr, Tennessee
S
5-11
R-Jr.
Champaign, Ill.
Emma Halter, Texas
L
5-5
Sr.
Indianapolis, Ind.
Torrey Stafford, Texas
OH
6-2
Jr.
Torrance, Calif.
Ifenna Cos-Okpalla, Texas A&M
MB
6-2
Sr.
Flower Mound, Texas
Logan Lednicky, Texas A&M
OPP
6-3
Sr.
Sugar Land, Texas
2025 SEC Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
Place
School
Points
1.
Kentucky (9)
218
2.
Texas (6)
216
3.
Texas A&M (1)
195
4.
Missouri
182
5.
Florida
169
6.
Tennessee
149
7.
Oklahoma
143
8.
LSU
115
9.
Georgia
98
10.
Ole Miss
97
11.
Arkansas
80
12.
Vanderbilt
77
13.
Auburn
76
14.
South Carolina
42
15.
Mississippi State
38
16.
Alabama
25
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