RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. -- The Great American Conference Preseason Poll was released Tuesday, and Henderson State was ranked tied for sixth by the league's coaches.

The Reddies received 62 votes in the poll after finishing seventh in 2025, which was marked by a third consecutive appearance in the conference tournament.

Harding was selected first after bowing out in the Conference Tournament semifinal against Southwestern Oklahoma State. They received 114 votes, only three more than defending GAC Champion Oklahoma Baptist, and two less first place votes, where OkBU received six and Harding four. Ouachita Bapitst was picked third and was the only other team to earn first-place votes, with two. Southwestern Oklahoma State (96) and Arkansas Tech (94) round out the top-five.

East Central and Henderson State tied for sixth in the poll, while Southern Nazarene, Southern Arkansas, Southeastern Oklahoma State, Northwestern Oklahoma State and Arkansas-Monticello finish out the poll respectively.

HSU returns reigning Defensive Player of the Year Kaylon Partain from a squad that secured the seventh seed of the tournament last season. Partain paced the country in digs last season, finishing third in the nation with 709.

The Reddies will open their season with the Bettye Wallace Classic, which runs from August 28th to the 29th. Henderson State will face Cameron as their first opponent of the 2026 season at 11:00 A.M. GAC conference play begins September 8th, as the Reddies will go on the road to face Arkansas Tech in the Tucker Coliseum at 6:00 P.M.

2026 GAC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL

TEAM	TOTAL POINTS	FIRST PLACE VOTES
1. Harding	114	4
2. Oklahoma Baptist	111	6
3. Ouachita Baptist	96	2
4. Southwestern Oklahoma State	94	--
5. Arkansas Tech	86	--
T6. Henderson State	62	--
T6. East Central	62	--
8. Southern Nazarene	46	--
9. Southern Arkansas	43	--
10. Southeastern Oklahoma State	42	--
11. Northwestern Oklahoma State	24	--
12. Arkansas-Monticello	12	--