Volleyball Picked to Finish 10th in SWAC Poll

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) unveiled the 2026 Preseason Predicted of Order of finish for volleyball on Wednesday, August 19, as Alcorn was voted to finish 10th in the 12-team league. The predicted order of finish is voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
 
After finishing the 2025 season with a 3-26 overall mark, and a 2-14 record in SWAC play, under interim head coach Gabrielle Harris, the Braves return top kills leader Courtney Carter (198 kills) in 2026, as well as top assist-maker and setter Juliana Henao (480 assists).
 
Alcorn was picked to finish 10th after turning in a 10th place finish at the conclusion of the 2025 campaign.
 
The Braves were picked to finish ahead of squads from Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Mississippi Valley State, respectfully.
 
For the second consecutive year, Florida A&M was voted as the SWAC Volleyball preseason favorite, followed by Prairie View A&M in second place. Jackson State comes in third, Alabama A&M edges in at fourth and Alabama State rounds out the top five selections.
 
FAMU, the defending SWAC Tournament champion, led with six (6) first place votes, followed in order by Prairie View A&M (5), Alabama A&M (4), Alabama State (4) and Southern (1).
 
The battle for the SWAC Tournament Championship with a chance of an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Division I Volleyball Championships is scheduled to take place November 20-22, on the campus of Alabama State in Montgomery, Alabama.
 
Alcorn officially kicks off the season Friday, Aug. 28, as the Braves travel to compete in the LSU New Orleans / Nicholls Challenge co-hosted by both LSU New Orleans and Nicholls State in New Orleans and Thibodaux, Louisiana, respectively. The Braves take on LSU New Orleans at 6:30 p.m. CDT.
 
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