LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Kentucky Volleyball team has been picked by Southeastern Conference head coaches to win the league for a 10th season in a row, with five Wildcats named to the All-SEC preseason team Wednesday.

The Wildcats garnered nine first-place votes and edged Texas by two points with 218 total points to Texas' 216. Texas A&M received one first-place vote. All 16 SEC head coaches participated in the voting.

Kentucky led all SEC programs with five players selected to the 15-person Preseason All-SEC Team. Outside hitter Brooklyn DeLeye, a three-time All-SEC selection and 2024 SEC Player of the Year, headlines the group after earning AVCA First Team All-America recognition in 2025. Setter Kassie O'Brien, who earned AVCA National Freshman of the Year honors and AVCA Second Team All-America in her inaugural season, also made the preseason team along with middle blocker Lizzie Carr, opposite hitter Morgan Gaerte and libero Molly Tuozzo.

Gaerte transferred to Kentucky from Notre Dame this offseason and was named First Team All-ACC in 2025 after recording 6.4 kills per set for the Fighting Irish. Carr, a fifth-year player, had eight matches with 10 or more kills last season. Tuozzo, a senior, was named 2025 SEC Tournament MVP and earned AVCA Third Team All-America honors.

Kentucky won its ninth consecutive SEC championship in 2025, going undefeated in league play. The Wildcats will look to extend their dominance as the 2026 SEC schedule begins Sept. 21 with a conference-opening trip to Vanderbilt, followed by a home match against Texas on Sept. 27 at Historic Memorial Coliseum.

The 2026 SEC Volleyball Tournament will return to Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia for the second consecutive season, running Nov. 20-24. The tournament winner will receive the SEC's automatic bid to the NCAA Volleyball Championship.