Bulldogs Tabbed in SEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Published 1:27 pm Monday, July 11, 2022
STARKVILLE – The Mississippi State volleyball team was predicted to finish fifth in the Southeastern Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll, which was announced Monday morning.
Mississippi State finished last season’s campaign with a 25-6 record and finished second in the SEC.
Bulldog senior Gabby Waden earned the honor of being selected to the league’s Preseason All-SEC squad. Waden was also selected to the All-SEC Team during the 2021 season.
MSU brings back a core group of returners, including six starters from last year’s team. Four freshmen join the 2022 squad and are sure to make a big impact on the season.
Mississippi State’s 2022 campaign will kick off on Aug. 26-27 with the Bulldogs heading to South Bend, Ind., to face Milwaukee and Notre Dame.
Preseason Coaches’ Poll
(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
| Place | School | Points |
| 1. | Kentucky (10) | 142 |
| 2. | Florida (2) | 132 |
| 3. | Tennessee (1) | 118 |
| 4. | Arkansas | 105 |
| 5. | Mississippi State | 103 |
| 6. | South Carolina | 75 |
| 7. | Ole Miss | 70 |
| 8. | LSU | 66 |
| 9. | Georgia | 63 |
| 10. | Texas A&M | 62 |
| 11. | Missouri | 31 |
| 12. | Auburn | 30 |
| 13. | Alabama | 17 |
Volleyball Preseason All-SEC Team
| Name, School | Pos. | Yr. | Ht. | Hometown |
| Jillian Gillen, Arkansas | OH | Sr. | 5-7 | Stilwell, Kan. |
| Merritt Beason, Florida | RS/OH | So. | 6-3 | Gardendale, Ala. |
| Bre Kelley, Florida | MB | So. | 6-4 | Rockwall, Texas |
| Eleanor Beavin, Kentucky | L | So. | 5-5 | Louisville, Ky. |
| Emma Grome, Kentucky | S | So. | 5-9 | Loveland, Ohio |
| Reagan Rutherford, Kentucky | OPP | Jr. | 6-0 | Missouri City, Texas |
| Azhani Tealer, Kentucky | MB | Sr. | 5-10 | Grand Prairie, Texas |
| Anita Anwusi, LSU | MB | Sr. | 6-3 | Houston, Texas |
| Sasha Ratliff, Ole Miss | MB | Jr. | 6-2 | Atlanta, Ga. |
| Gabby Waden, Mississippi State | MB/RS | Gr. | 5-10 | Columbia, S.C. |
| Anna Dixon, Missouri | OH | Sr. | 6-3 | Louisburg, Kan. |
| Jenna Hampton, South Carolina | DS/L | Gr. | 5-7 | Tampa, Fla. |
| Morgahn Fingall, Tennessee | RS | Sr. | 6-1 | Fairfax, Va. |
| Natalie Hayward, Tennessee | S | Sr. | 5-11 | Bothell, Wash. |
| Danielle Mahaffey, Tennessee | MB | Gr. | 6-1 | Cincinnati, Ohio |
For more information on the Bulldog volleyball program, visit HailState.com or search for “HailStateVB” on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.