Photo by: Kevan Albright
Gonzalez Tabbed Preseason All-UAC, ACU Picked Fifth in Coaches Poll
8/25/2026 1:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Abilene Christian volleyball's Hannah Gonzalez was named to the Preseason All-United Athletic Conference Team, the conference announced Tuesday. Gonzalez is the Wildcats' first preseason all-conference selection since 2019 as ACU landed in fifth in the UAC's Preseason Coaches Poll.
The Wildcats received 52 votes from the conference's head coaches, with Eastern Kentucky topping the poll with seven of eight first place votes.
Gonzalez enters her senior campaign after earning All-Western Athletic Conference First Team accolades last season. The middle blocker was the lone Wildcat to appear in all 117 sets while starting all 30 matches. She led the team in kills (295), hitting percentage (.283), blocks (93.0) and points (369.0).
Gonzalez ranked third in WAC in both total kills and total points while landing in the top 10 for kills (2.52) and points per set (3.15). The Lucas, Texas product set the program's Division I record for solo blocks (29) and ranked in the top 10 for kills, points and hitting percentage. She stands in the career top 10 for total blocks (196) and solo blocks (57).
The Wildcats get the season started with the ACU Invitational at Moody Coliseum on Friday and Saturday. ACU meets Lamar at 7:30 p.m. Friday ahead of Saturday matchups with Cal State Bakersfield and North Texas. The Wildcats are aiming for the third season-opening victory in the past four years.
ACU enters its fourth season under head coach Ijeoma Moronu Alstrup. The ACU Sports Hall of Famer steered the Wildcats to a historic campaign in 2025 as they collected 13 victories, their most since 2018. ACU picked up its first conference tournament victory since 2017 to reach the WAC Tournament semifinals.
ACU makes its debut in the UAC in 2026, welcoming six new conference opponents along with Tarleton State and UT Arlington in the rebranding of the WAC. Austin Peay, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, North Alabama and West Georgia join from the Atlantic Sun, while Little Rock makes the move from the Ohio Valley.
UAC Preseason Volleyball Awards and Coaches Poll
Preseason Player of the Year: Emilee Hill, EKU
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Cassidy Trahan, EKU^
Preseason Setter of the Year: Emilee Hill, EKU^
Preseason All-UAC Team
Hannah Gonzalez, Abilene Christian
Emilee Hill, EKU
Cassidy Trahan, EKU^
Addison Burke, EKU
Reese Rickets, North Alabama
Kinslee McGowan, North Alabama
Alyssa Dinh, Tarleton State
^ unanimous selection
The Wildcats received 52 votes from the conference's head coaches, with Eastern Kentucky topping the poll with seven of eight first place votes.
Gonzalez enters her senior campaign after earning All-Western Athletic Conference First Team accolades last season. The middle blocker was the lone Wildcat to appear in all 117 sets while starting all 30 matches. She led the team in kills (295), hitting percentage (.283), blocks (93.0) and points (369.0).
Gonzalez ranked third in WAC in both total kills and total points while landing in the top 10 for kills (2.52) and points per set (3.15). The Lucas, Texas product set the program's Division I record for solo blocks (29) and ranked in the top 10 for kills, points and hitting percentage. She stands in the career top 10 for total blocks (196) and solo blocks (57).
The Wildcats get the season started with the ACU Invitational at Moody Coliseum on Friday and Saturday. ACU meets Lamar at 7:30 p.m. Friday ahead of Saturday matchups with Cal State Bakersfield and North Texas. The Wildcats are aiming for the third season-opening victory in the past four years.
ACU enters its fourth season under head coach Ijeoma Moronu Alstrup. The ACU Sports Hall of Famer steered the Wildcats to a historic campaign in 2025 as they collected 13 victories, their most since 2018. ACU picked up its first conference tournament victory since 2017 to reach the WAC Tournament semifinals.
ACU makes its debut in the UAC in 2026, welcoming six new conference opponents along with Tarleton State and UT Arlington in the rebranding of the WAC. Austin Peay, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, North Alabama and West Georgia join from the Atlantic Sun, while Little Rock makes the move from the Ohio Valley.
UAC Preseason Volleyball Awards and Coaches Poll
Preseason Player of the Year: Emilee Hill, EKU
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Cassidy Trahan, EKU^
Preseason Setter of the Year: Emilee Hill, EKU^
Preseason All-UAC Team
Hannah Gonzalez, Abilene Christian
Emilee Hill, EKU
Cassidy Trahan, EKU^
Addison Burke, EKU
Reese Rickets, North Alabama
Kinslee McGowan, North Alabama
Alyssa Dinh, Tarleton State
^ unanimous selection
| School | Votes (First Place Votes) | |
| 1 | Eastern Kentucky | 80 (8) |
| 2 | Central Arkansas | 70 (1) |
| 3 | Tarleton State | 66 |
| 4 | North Alabama | 57 |
| 5 | Abilene Christian | 52 |
| 6 | UT Arlington | 44 |
| 7 | Austin Peay | 39 |
| 8 | Little Rock | 33 |
| 9 | West Georgia | 27 |
Players Mentioned
MB
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