The Shadow
NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference announced on Wednesday afternoon that James Madison volleyball was picked second in East Division of the 2025 Preseason Coaches’ Poll. JMU was one of four teams to receive first-place votes in the East Division, picking up two votes from the league’s coaches. Georgia Southern was picked as the overwhelming favorite, tallying nine first-place votes, while Coastal Carolina (2) and App State (1) also garnered votes. Texas State, the 2024 Sun Belt Champions, was chosen as the favorite in the West. The Dukes and Bobcats will face off Nov. 13-14 in Harrisonburg.
Defensive specialist Julia McNeley (Louisville, Ky./Sacred Heart) headlines a group of seven returners from 2024, as the senior finished second on the team in digs (252) and dig average (2.74). The Dukes also welcomed eight newcomers to The Valley ahead of the 2025 season, including five freshmen and three transfers.
JMU opens its season on Friday, Aug. 29 against No. 17 Missouri in Fort Myers, Fla., on the campus of Florida Gulf Coast. The Dukes will also play Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday Aug. 30, and Sunday, Aug. 31.
2025 Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Preseason Awards
Preseason Player of the Year
Jalyn Stout, Coastal Carolina (Jr., S, Gainesville, Fla.)
Preseason Setter of the Year
Anna Loberg, South Alabama (RS Sr., S, Geneva, Ill.)
Preseason Libero of the Year
Sunni Sheppard, Southern Miss (Jr., L, Brandon, Miss.)
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
Jalyn Stout, Coastal Carolina (Jr. S, Gainesville, Fla.)
Reagan Barth, Georgia Southern (Jr., OH, Lenexa, Kan.)
Samantha Wunsch, Texas State (RS Jr., OH, Austin, Texas)
Jade Defraeye, Texas State (Sr., MB, Dunkirk, France)
Maya Winterhoff, App State (Sr., MB, Charlottesville, Va.)
Sarah Gooch, South Alabama (Jr., OH, Apopka, Fla.)
Daedrianna Cail, Arkansas State (Sr., MB, Marion, Ark.)
Anna Loberg, South Alabama (RS Sr., S, Geneva, Ill.)
Kaitlin Whitlock, Arkansas State (Jr., OH, San Antonio, Texas)
Amiah Butler, Troy (Sr., OH, Pensacola, Fla.)
Addison Heidemann, App State (RS Sr., S, Diller, Neb.)
Kirsten Barrett, Georgia Southern (Sr., S, Cleveland, Ohio)
2025 Sun Belt Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
East Division
1. Georgia Southern (9) – 87
2. James Madison (2) – 77
3. Coastal Carolina (2) – 75
4. App State (1) – 61
5. Georgia State – 44
6. Old Dominion – 27
7. Marshall – 21
West Division
1. Texas State (11) – 95
2. Arkansas State (3) – 81
3. South Alabama – 68
4. Troy – 54
5. Louisiana – 42
6. Southern Miss – 38
7. ULM – 14
Parentheses indicate first-place votes
