INDIANAPOLIS – Drury volleyball was selected eighth among Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) women's volleyball teams in the league's annual preseason coaches' poll, the conference office announced Thursday.
Drury received 88 points in the poll, finishing behind preseason favorite Missouri-St. Louis (166) -- which received 11 of the 14 total first-place votes cast -- as well as Rockhurst (153), Indianapolis (145), Quincy (128), Maryville (119), Lewis (116) and Truman State (92). Rounding out the top 10 was Illinois Springfield (71) and Missouri S&T (60).
No. School - Points (first-place votes)
1. UMSL - 166 (11)
2. Rockhurst - 153 (2)
3. Indianapolis - 145 (1)
4. Quincy - 128
5. Maryville - 119
6. Lewis - 116
7. Truman State - 92
8. Drury - 88
9. Illinois Springfield - 71
10. Missouri S&T - 60
11. McKendree - 55
12. Southwest Baptist - 36
13. Upper Iowa - 31
14. William Jewell - 14
Drury is coming off a 17-13 campaign and 7-6 record in GLVC play, which tied for the sixth spot in the conference's 2025 regular-season standings. The Panthers will return 10 letterwinners from last year's club, including sophomore Skylar Hilton, who finished her rookie season with a team-leading 116 blocks to go along with 213 kills -- good for third on the squad. Additionally, junior Kim Quinit averaged 3.24 digs per set, while junior Abby Renshaw matched Hilton with her 1.81 kills per set average last fall.
New Drury head coach Kelly Richardson assumes the reins of the Panthers following previous stops as head coach at Southwest Baptist and NCAA Division I Western Illinois. She will welcome a deep class of nine newcomers to the Panthers roster.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Panthers open the 2026 season Friday (Aug. 28), when they host the two-day Drury Invitational at O'Reilly Family Event Center. DU kicks off the season with a 1 p.m. match against Minot State, followed by a 5 p.m. tilt versus Southern Nazarene.
For all the latest information on Drury volleyball, visit drurypanthers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Panthers on X and Instagram.
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