ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Emory & Henry University Women's Lacrosse Team has been picked to finish 11th in the South Atlantic Conference this year by the league's head coaches. The poll was released by the SAC office on Thursday.
RELATED – SAC Preseason Poll & Preseason All-Conference Team
Last year, Emory & Henry posted a 4-12 overall record with an 0-11 record in South Atlantic Conference play. The Wasps picked up wins over Truett-McConnell, former ODAC rival Ferrum, Tennessee Wesleyan and Warren Wilson College.
Wingate University is first in the poll with nine of 11 first-place votes. Anderson (S.C.) University sits in second with the other two first-place nods while Lenoir-Rhyne University is in third. Newberry College is fourth and UVA Wise rounds out the top five.
Lincoln Memorial has been chosen to finish sixth while Tusculum University is seventh and Catawba College sits in eighth. Coker University resides in ninth, while Mars Hill University and Emory & Henry are 10th and 11th respectively.
Additionally the SAC has named its Preseason All-Conference Team and Players to Watch List with senior midfielder Justyce Jones (Jacksonville, N.C.), graduate student attack Mary Martinez (Atizapan de Zaragoza, MEXICO), sophomore attack/midfield/defender Alex Costello (Johnson City, Tenn.), junior defender Megan D'Amore (Mooresville, N.C.) and freshman goalie Madison Weaver (Forest, Va.) making the list for the Wasps.
Emory & Henry kicks off the 2026 season on Saturday, February 7 at home against the University of Charleston (W.Va.).
--E&H--
2026 SAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank School (first place votes) Points
1. Wingate (9) 119
2. Anderson (2) 106
3. Lenoir-Rhyne 102
4. Newberry 99
5. UVA Wise 83
6. Lincoln Memorial 74
7. Tusculum 67
8. Catawba 58
9. Coker 44
10. Mars Hill 42
11. Emory & Henry 31
2026 SAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason All-Conference
A – Kirra Olson, Lenoir-Rhyne
A – Ava Skeffington, Anderson
A – Josie Tinnerello, Lincoln Memorial
A – Logen Davis, UVA Wise
MF – Megan Muir, Anderson
MF – Emma Toole, Anderson
MF – Mya Halladay, Tusculum
MF – Ellie Wilkins, Anderson
D – Kathryn McCabe, Wingate
D – Krysta Churns, Wingate
D – Meredith Dawson, Anderson
D – Taryn Moreno, UVA Wise
GK – Sally Friesen, Lenoir-Rhyne
Players to Watch
Catawba: Audrey Adelsberger, Allison Filosa, Kylie Harris, Abby Shuren, Madison Widecki
Coker: Kate Halcro, Mia MacMillan, Olivia Schmidt, Veronica Richardson, Sydnee Schrauben
Emory & Henry: Justyce Jones, Mary Martinez, Alex Costello, Megan D'Amore, Madison Weaver
Lincoln Memorial: Sage Leax, Brookelyn Walls, Ryan Smith, Jaiden Jaynes
Mars Hill: Makenna Olson, Kendall Middleton, Madison Welch, Abby Cleveland, Ashley Holland
Newberry: Ella Todd, Julia Zayachowsky, Lana Howell, Shannon Creagh
Tusculum: Jessie Carolin-Vandenberg, Sophia Didzbalis, Liberty Jones, Elisha Stack
UVA Wise: Issie Brown, Noley Hiller, Kaylea Paterson
Wingate: Bree Solero, Deirdre Jones, Sophie Pavlick