Chattanooga has been selected as the favorite to win the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Beach Volleyball title for a third consecutive year, according to the results of the league’s preseason poll released Thursday. The poll was conducted among Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors across the conference.
The Sandy Mocs received 50 points and 10 first-place votes, placing them ahead of UT Martin, which finished second with 37 points and two first-place votes. The rest of the preseason poll ranked Morehead State in third place with 36 points, followed by Lindenwood (28), Tennessee Tech (17), and Eastern Illinois (12).
“We are grateful for the recognition, as we want that expectation, and don’t take it lightly,” said Chattanooga’s Head Coach. “We are excited to see exactly where we stand as we start competing.”
Chattanooga returns several players from last season’s team that set a school record with 26 wins. Six returning All-OVC performers from Chattanooga were recognized this preseason, two more than any other team in the conference. Lindenwood follows with four returning All-OVC honorees.
Additionally, a senior transfer from Florida Southern was named to Chattanooga’s spot on the OVC Watch List. She recorded 55 career wins over three seasons at Florida Southern and helped her previous team win a Silver Bracket Title at last year’s AVCA Small College Championships.
The Sandy Mocs will begin their 2026 campaign on Friday, February 27 at the Wheeler Beach Bash in Columbia, South Carolina. They are scheduled to play four matches over the weekend against Coastal Carolina, Texas A&M – Corpus Christi, South Carolina, and Austin Peay.
For further updates on Chattanooga Beach Volleyball, fans can follow their social media accounts or visit GoMocs.com.
