LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky Volleyball team was picked by the 16 Southeastern Conference head coaches to win the league in the annual preseason poll, it was announced Tuesday afternoon. Additionally, the Wildcats received four spots on the All-SEC preseason team, the most of any team in the conference.

Kentucky received nine of the 16 first-place votes with Texas, who was picked second, gathering six first-place votes and Texas A&M receiving one. Kentucky received 218 points, beating out Texas by two points, who collected 216 points in the preseason poll, as the Wildcats were selected to win what would be their ninth-straight SEC championship. Texas A&M was picked third with Missouri (fourth) and Florida (fifth) rounding out the top five.

The All-SEC Preseason Team consists of the top 15 vote-getters in the SEC from the coaches, regardless of position and Kentucky had a league-high four on the team with Brooke Bultema, Brooklyn DeLeye, Eva Hudson and Molly Tuozzo all earning spots on the team. For DeLeye, she is coming off winning SEC Player of the Year in 2024 and will be looking to become the second player at Kentucky to win SEC Player of the Year twice in 2025, her junior year, as she would join Leah Edmond who did it in 2018 and 2019 in her final two years at UK.

Kentucky’s 2025 season kicks off Saturday, August 30 at Lipscomb in a 3 p.m. ET match in Nashville before playing in the first-ever Broadway Block Party at Bridgestone Arena against Nebraska at Noon ET on ABC. The home season for UK open Sept. 13 against SMU as part of a four-team event with UK, SMU, Houston and Purdue.

SEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll

1. Kentucky (9)
2. Texas (6)
3. Texas A&M (1)
4. Missouri
5. Florida
6. Tennessee
7. Oklahoma
8. LSU
9. Georgia
10. Ole Miss
11. Arkansas
12. Vanderbilt
13. Auburn
14. South Carolina
15. Mississippi State
16. Alabama

Preseason All-SEC Team

Jaela Auguste (MB, Florida)

Brooke Bultema (MB, Kentucky)

Brooklyn DeLeye (OH, Kentucky)

Eva Hudson (OH, Kentucky)

Molly Tuozzo (L, Kentucky)

Jurnee Robinson (OH, LSU)

Nia Washington (OH, LSU)

Mokihana Tufono (S, Ole Miss)

Maya Sands (L, Mizzou)

Alexis Shelton (OH, Oklahoma)

Caroline Kerr (S, Tennessee)

Emma Halter (L, Texas)

Torrey Stafford (OH, Texas)

Ifenna Cos-Okpalla (MB, Texas A&M)

Logan Lednicky (OPP, Texas A&M)

 

For the latest on UK Volleyball, follow the Wildcats on Twitter and Instagram at @KentuckyVB.

One week into The Championships, Wimbledon, it’s not just the 18-shot rallies between Carlos Alcaraz and Fabio Fognini that are captivating audiences. It’s also the flurry of messages between fans, whose passion for the sport plays out in group chats as much as it does in the stands.

New research from Vodafone reveals that these ‘message rallies’ – rapid-fire bursts of conversation – are lighting up more than a third (35%) of Brits’ group chats on a daily basis with debates over favourite athletes and teams sparking some of the nation’s longest streaks, second only to family catch-ups and weekend plans.

Over half (52%) of sports fans say they use their group chats to stay on top of the action, with one-in-five (20%) Brits admitting they have a dedicated group chat just to rally back-and-forth about sport.

The data also shows fans are spending just as much time chatting about matches with friends as they are watching them, with some message rallies hitting an impressive 74 back-and-forths during a single game. Top triggers include controversial umpire decisions (28%); team and player performances (28%); and the all-important points celebrations (25%).

Vodafone believes connectivity is essential and everyone should have access to the opportunities it brings, and as the Official Connectivity Partner of The Championships, Wimbledon, it’s turning this year’s on-court action into real-world impact. Through the launch of the Rally Tally challenge, the Nation’s Network is pledging up to 25,000 donated connections, matched to the average rallies recorded by IBM across the show courts.

The initiative is part of Vodafone’s everyone.connected programme, which is on track to help four million people and businesses cross the digital divide by the end of 2025.

With its partners, Vodafone has already helped over 3.5 million people and businesses cross the digital divide, donating mobile connectivity and technology to those who need it most. The company also provides free support to upskill businesses and communities, while offering targeted, affordable tariffs and services to make being connected easily accessible.

NEW ORLEANS – Baylor track & field’s Nathaniel Ezekiel has cemented himself as one of the all-time greats in program history, earning a prestigious spot as a finalist for The Bowerman, announced Tuesday afternoon by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Joining Ezekiel as finalists are Jordan Anthony of Arkansas and Ja’Kobe Tharp of Auburn.
 
The announcement marked the first time in program history that a Baylor student-athlete has been named a finalist for the prominent award. Ezekiel appeared on all but one watchlist throughout the 2025 season.
 
The Bowerman is given annually to the top collegiate track and field men’s and women’s athlete of the year. Online fan voting will open at 3 p.m. CT on Tuesday, July 8, and close at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 10. The Bowerman Presentation will take place Thursday, Dec. 18, in Grapevine, Texas, at the annual USTFCCCA Convention.
 
Ezekiel’s historic senior season was highlighted by the NCAA Outdoor Championships, running his final lap in a Baylor uniform with a personal-best of 47.49 and the No. 3 all-time mark in collegiate history to win the 400-meter hurdles title. The Nigerian was the first national champion for Baylor in the 400mH since Bayano Kamani in 2001 and only the third Bear to win the event. Ezekiel went undefeated in all outdoor events this season.
 
Ezekiel ended his Baylor senior season with multitudes of honors, including 2025 USTFCCCA Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year, NCAA Indoor Runner-Up in the 400m, Big 12 Indoor and Outdoor Athlete of the Year and Big 12 Champion in the 400m and 4×400 relay and outdoor 400mH.
 

Through his career at BU, Ezekiel finished as a nine-time All-American in the indoor and outdoor seasons. Ezekiel stacked on 11 medals between Big 12 Indoor and Outdoor meets, two bronze, four silver and five gold. At NCAA Indoor & Outdoor Championships, Ezekiel was a four-time medalist, with two bronze, one silver and one gold.
 
The Nigerian legend leaves his legacy as the BU program record holder in the 400mH, the indoor 400m and a member in the indoor 4×400 relay. Ezekiel also holds the Nigerian and Big 12 meet record in the 400mH.
 
Most notably, Ezekiel concluded his collegiate career as the only athlete in NCAA history to have multiple all-time top ten marks in the 400mH, owning four.
 
THE BOWERMAN FINALISTS FOR 2025
Jordan Anthony, Arkansas
Nathaniel Ezekiel, Baylor
Ja’Kobe Tharp, Auburn
 
Pamela Kosgei, New Mexico
Doris Lemngole, Alabama
Savannah Sutherland, Michigan

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The Assistant Coach is responsible for supporting the Head Volleyball Coach by coaching Cadet-athletes, recruiting, monitoring Cadet-athletes’ academic progress, scheduling, managing travel, overseeing the discipline and conduct of the Cadet-athletes. This position reports to the Head Volleyball Coach. All the duties of the position must be conducted in adherence with the policies, rules, and regulations of the United States Military Academy (“USMA”), Army West Point Athletic Association Inc. (“AWPAA”), the Patriot League Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (“NCAA”).

What You’ll Do
70% Coaching

• Promotes the philosophy and objectives of AWPAA; to include adhering to and enforcing all applicable policies and procedures, as well as rules and regulations of USMA, the Conference, and the NCAA.
• Assists the Head Coach with the ongoing teaching and instruction of Cadet-athletes in the performance of their sport such as, but not limited to, games, practices, individual and team workouts, and conditioning sessions.
• Coach and instruct student-athletes individually and in groups and demonstrate game techniques and skills required to be successful.
• Plan and attend coaching and practice sessions, games, tournaments, etc. in accordance with NCAA and conference regulations for specified positions. 
• Develop, recommend, and teach game strategy.
• Monitor and maintain the discipline and conduct of Cadet-athletes to support the image and reputation of the department and academy. Responsible for the development, safety and conduct of the Cadet-athletes within the sport program.
• Supervises assigned assistant coaches and other support staff to ensure compliance with applicable rules, policies, and procedures; provides orientation, training and guidance as needed; conducts performance evaluations.

5% Recruiting 

• Has a large role in the identification, recruitment, and selection of prospective Cadet-athletes; ensures compliance with NCAA recruiting rules and regulations; initiates process for determining academic eligibility.
• Recruit quality prospective Cadet-athletes and ensure timely submission of their academic records for admissions.

20% Administrative 

• Work to integrate sports into the whole spectrum of USMA life to complement the AWPAA and USMA mission in the military community. 
• Assist the Head Coach in the administration of the entire sport program, including, but not limited to daily practices, game planning and implementation, recruiting, equipment management, facilities scheduling, and budget.
• Ensures that team travel arrangements are in compliance with USMA, Conference, and NCAA rules and regulations, to include monitoring development of travel itineraries and coordination of travel plans.
• Ensures safety of Cadet-athlete and coaching staff through careful monitoring of the condition of athletics equipment and facilities utilized by designated sport; submits requests for repair, maintenance, and improvement of facilities to facility manager, when appropriate.

5% Engagement/Camps & Clinics 

• Perform both direct and indirect public relations functions including promotion, fundraising, public speaking, community events, and through camps and/or clinics. Serve on departmental committees as requested.
• Assist with departmental needs as requested; When practical under the circumstances, staff is encouraged to voluntarily attend athletic events to promote audience participation and support for AWPAA sport programs.
• Participates in camps, clinics, exhibitions, and campus activities as approved by AWPAA NCAA Compliance Office.

What We Can Offer
$16 per hour

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