CANTON, Ga. - The Southern Athletic Association (SAA) has announced the 2026 Volleyball All-Conference teams and major award winners ahead of the tournament.

Berry captured two major awards with Madie Whitehead and Andrea Hurt beind named the SAA Offensive and Defensive Athletes of the Year while Centre captured the other two major awards with Elle B Smith as the Rookie of the Year led by the Coaching Staff of the Year.

All-Conference voting and the selection of the All-Sportsmanship team was conducted among the conference's nine head coaches.

Offensive Athlete of the Year | Madie Whitehead | SR | Berry | Pearland, TX
Whitehead hit her 1,000 kill mark this season as a senior and has led the Vikings with 3.71 kills per set in 104 sets played. She leads the conference in kills with 386 and also in points with 469 at 4.51/set.

Defensive Athlete of the Year | Andrea Hurt | SR | Berry | Columbus, GA
Hurt is first in the league with 509 digs and second in averaging 4.89 per set. She has been instrumental to the Vikings defense in limiting opponents to points. The Libero has been a part of three SAA championship teams.

Rookie of the Year | Elle B Smith | FR | Centre | St. Petersburg, FL
The first-year has recorded over 1,000 assists this season, leading the conference and averaging 10.62/set. She has been a huge part of the success from the Colonels who have held a No. 1 spot in NCAA Division III for multiple weeks and secured the No. 1 seed in the SAA Tournament along with capturing the regular season title.

Coaching Staff of the Year | Centre College
Led by Patrick Robidoux, Centre has had a phenomenal season at 25-3 overall and 15-1 in SAA play. The Colonels have faced many top ranked teams and climbed the rankings all season long. The team even held a stint at No. 1 overall and have momentum heading into the 2026 tournament.
 

---

Coaching Staff of the Year – Centre College
Offensive Athlete of the Year – Madie Whitehead, Berry
Defensive Athlete of the Year - Andrea Hurt, Berry
Rookie of the Year – Elle B Smith, Centre

First Team All-Conference 
Madie Whitehead, Berry
Elise Grundy, Centre
Elle B Smith, Centre
Ava Brovet, Berry
Syd Bietz, Centre
Courtney Pope, Trinity
Kendra Christopher, Centre
Lily Long, Trinity
Andrea Hurt, Berry

Second Team All-Conference 
Keira Kruk, Berry
Cali Armstead, Berry
Yzzi Dsamou, Rhodes
Lucy Riggar, Southwestern
Savannah Gann, Sewanee
Tatum Ahrens, Southwestern
Campbell Miles, Centre
Kendall Jurgens, Southwestern
Khloe Duncan, Millsaps

Honorable Mention 
Maryville – Ruby Walton
Millsaps – Sandy Bourgeois, Zoë LaCaze
Sewanee – Sophia Caruso
Southwestern – Izzy Rodriguez
Trinity – Kendall DeRivel, Lauren McCarthy
 

All-Sportsmanship
Berry – Ryn Gaertner
Centre – Olivia Chonjnacki
Maryville – Dakota Vaiese
Millsaps – Amelia Bohl
Oglethorpe – Abby Wheeler
Rhodes – Rachel Clarke
Sewanee – Charlotte Lee
Southwestern – Madi Ingram
Trinity – Brynn Bishop
 

---

All-Time SAA Athletes of the Year
  

	Offensive Athlete of the Year	Defensive Athlete of the Year	Rookie of the Year	Coaching Staff of the Year
2026	Madie Whitehead, Berry	Andrea Hurt, Berry	Elle B Smith, Centre	Centre, Patrick Robidoux
2025	Reagan Whatley, Trinity	Sophia Caruso, Sewanee	Ava Brovet, Berry	Trinity University, Julie Jenkins
2024	Emily Gardner, Centre	June Padilla, Centre	Delia Long, Centre	Patrick Robidoux, Centre
2023	Bella Boston, Berry	Kate Whittle, Berry	Syd Bietz, Centre	Patrick Robidoux, Centre
2022	Peyton Breissinger, Berry	Kate Whittle, Berry	Ally Knueven, Centre	Caitlyn Moriarty, Berry
2021	Emily Rapach, Berry	Laura Beier, Berry	Cypress Guenther, Berry	Caitlyn Moriarty, Berry
2020-21	Laura Beier, Berry	Laura Beier, Berry	Camryn Presley, Hendrix	Anna Braun, Oglethorpe
2019	Carson VanCampen, Berry	Laura Beier, Berry	Alyssa Coats, BSC	Haven O'Quinn, BSC
2018	Emily Hancock, Berry	Laura Beier, Berry	Ellie Pedersen, Sewanee	Caitlyn Moriarty, Berry
2017	Hannah Kate Thompson, Berry	Ashley Zamjahn, Millsaps	Destiny Stewart, Sewanee	Caitlyn Moriarty, Berry
2016	Sara Dyslin, Hendrix	Katie Truluck, Berry	Lauren Dwyer, Hendrix	Angie Boldt, Hendrix
2015	Katie O'Rourke, Berry	Ashley Zamjahn, Millsaps	Jeneva Salter, BSC	Ryan Meek, Hendrix
2014	Caroline McKey, Millsaps	Sara Jayne Sutton, Sewanee	Lauren Petrisin, Hendrix	Ryan Meek, Hendrix
2013	Stephanie Quinn, Berry	Paige Poggemeier, Centre	Mary Caroline Rogers, Hendrix	Mika Robinson, Berry
2012	Kasey Laird, Millsaps	Megan MaKuck, Oglethorpe	Emily Stromberg, Berry	Shawna Lurendine, Sewanee

 




















 

---

For more information on all things SAA, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the SAA's home on the internet at www.saa-sports.com. Be sure to stay up to date on all of your Southern Athletic Association news by following @SAA_Sports on Twitter (X) and @SAA_Sports on Instagram.