MOUNT BERRY, Ga. - The Southern Athletic Association has released the 2025 Volleyball Preseason Poll and has chosen the four-time consecutive champion Vikings to finish second.

The Vikings are looking to continue their historic run in the SAA as the cornerstone of the conference's volleyball field. Berry has brought in an astounding 8 conference championships in the last 12 years of competition. 

Despite losing front line fire power in Bella Boston, Lilly Teagle and Lindsey MacDiarmid, the reigning SAA Tournament Champion Vikings are still loaded with talent from top to bottom. Versatile outside hitter Lura Underwood will step into even more of a leadership role this season, after finishing with 254 kills last season.  

Underwood will be joined by returning all-conference talents Andrea Hurt and Keira Kruk as major contributors for the Vikings. Breakout seasons are also in order for rising stars like middle blocker Blakely Barnes and Madie Whitehead who both showed flashes of dominance last season, combining for a total of 243 kills. 

The preseason poll is voted on by each head coach in the conference.  

2025 SAA Volleyball Preseason Poll 

1. Trinity – 55 (6) 

2. Berry – 47 

3. Centre – 43 (2) 

4. Southwestern – 42 

5. Rhodes – 30 

6. Sewanee – 24 

7. Millsaps – 21 

8. Oglethorpe – 18 

Trinity closed the 2024 season ranked No. 16 nationally after advancing to the NCAA Regional at Emory. The Tigers went 14-1 in SCAC play and return SCAC Freshman of the Year Taylor Starr alongside all-region standout Kendall DeRivel. 

Centre claimed the 2024 regular-season title and, despite falling to Berry in the tournament, secured an NCAA berth thanks to a strong NPI ranking. The Colonels return SAA Newcomer of the Year Delia Long. 

The 2025 SAA Volleyball Tournament is set to begin November 13 in Atlanta, hosted by Oglethorpe University. 

Past SAA Volleyball Champions 
2024 – Berry (9-3) 
2023 – Berry (14-0) 
2022 – Berry (13-1) 
2021 – Berry (13-1) 
2020 – no season 
2019 – Birmingham-Southern (13-1) 
2018 – Berry (13-1) 
2017 – Berry (14-0) 
2016 – Hendrix (13-1) 
2015 – Hendrix (12-2) 
2014 – Hendrix (12-2) 
2013 – Berry (13-1) 
2012 – Berry (13-1) 

For more information on all things SAA, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the SAA's home on the internet at www.saa-sports.com