BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – On Thursday, the Gulf South Conference announced its 2026 Volleyball Coaches Preseason Poll and All-Conference team, naming both Sydney Durban and Mary Grace Bundrant to the preseason All-Conference team while the team earned the top spot on the coaches poll.

A year after being named the GSC Freshman of the Year and Second Team All-GSC, Durban earned a spot on the GSC Preseason All-Conference team after she played in all 32 matches for the Chargers at libero/defensive specialist during the 2025 season. Through the season, the Hoover, Alabama, native notched team-highs in digs with 518 and service aces with 42. Durban also finished the year with 141 assists through 118 sets played.

Bundrant earned Preseason All-Conference honors after she finished the 2025 season with a team-best hitting percentage of 27% while notching 521 kills on 516 total attacks. The Chargers' middle blocker also led the team with 37 solo blocks and 68 block assists while ranking fifth in the conference last season in total blocks. Additionally, the Cookeville, Tennessee, native added 42 digs through the season.

The UAH team earned the No. 1 spot on the GSC Preseason Coaches poll with seven first-place votes. The Chargers finished the 2025 season 24-8 and earned the No. 3 seed in the GSC Volleyball Championships after finishing regular season conference play with a 15-5 record. The Chargers capped the season with a berth to the NCAA South Region Championship.

Additionally, junior outside hitter Ella Schumacher was named to the GSC Volleyball Newcomers to Watch List after accumulating 361 kills, 132 digs, 32 total blocks and 11 assists at Christian Brothers last season.