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Tarleton State University Athletics

DinhPreseasonPoll
Avery Golden

Women's Volleyball Grant Cohen

Tarleton State Volleyball selected third in UAC Preseason Poll, Dinh tabbed to Preseason All-UAC Team

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton State Volleyball was picked third in the United Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll and had representation on the Preseason All-Conference Team, the conference announced Tuesday. 

Middle blocker Alyssa Dinh was one of seven players selected for the Preseason All-UAC Team. Dinh's placement on the All-UAC Preseason Team marks the third consecutive year the Texans have had representation on a preseason all-conference team. 

Tarleton State's third-place ranking marks the highest preseason conference placement in the Division I era (non-division format). It is the best preseason ranking since the Texans were predicted to win the Lone Star Conference in Division II in 2019. 

Under second year head coach Jazmyne Johnson, Tarleton State enjoyed a turnaround year last season. After winning just seven matches in the year prior to Johnson's arrival, the Texans improved by nine wins to finish in the top three in the WAC standings in 2025. The No. 3 seed Texans followed suit with their first-ever Division I postseason tournament win in the WAC Tournament, winning a five-set thriller over California Baptist to advance to the conference tournament semifinals. 

The 2026 squad returns nine letterwinners from the previous season, including a pair of Texans receiving All-Conference recognition. Dinh returns to Stephenville for her second season after being tabbed the WAC Freshman of the Year to go with a spot on the All-Conference Freshman Team. Outside hitter Madison Frank enters her fourth year at Tarleton State with two All-Conference honors, including a spot on the All-Conference Second Team last season. 

After missing the first six matches, Dinh quickly took over the Texans and became one of the most impactful front-row players in the WAC last season. She closed the season with 86 kills and an attacking percentage of .286. Her 1.51 kills per set made her one of the WAC's most efficient attackers. 

Solidifying the Texans' interior presence defensively with 62 total blocks— including 14 solo stops, Dinh averaged 1.09 blocks per set in 2025 to rank among the league's top middle blockers. She also set the Division I era program record for single match blocks with 11 on Oct. 2, 2025 against UT Arlington. 

Only Eastern Kentucky, the Atlantic Sun runners-up in 2025, and Central Arkansas ranked ahead of Tarleton State in the preseason poll. EKU's Emilee Hill was named Preseason Player and Setter of the Year. EKU's Cassidy Trahan was named Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. 

Tarleton State will open the 2026 regular season in Tucson, Arizona, taking on UCSB, Arizona and Prairie View in the Wildcat Classic this weekend. The Texans' face UCSB in their first match of the showcase on Friday at 5:30 p.m. CT. 

UAC Preseason Volleyball Awards & 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

Preseason Coaches Poll 
  1. EKU 
  2. Central Arkansas
  3. Tarleton State
  4. North Alabama 
  5. Abilene Christian 
  6. UT Arlington
  7. Austin Peay
  8. Little Rock 
  9. West Georgia 
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Players Mentioned

Madison Frank

#9 Madison Frank

MB
6' 1"
Junior
Alyssa Dinh

#23 Alyssa Dinh

MB
6' 1"
Redshirt Freshman

Players Mentioned

Madison Frank

#9 Madison Frank

6' 1"
Junior
MB
Alyssa Dinh

#23 Alyssa Dinh

6' 1"
Redshirt Freshman
MB