Eastern Illinois volleyball was picked to finish fourth in the OVC preseason poll, the league announced on Wednesday. The reigning regular season and tournament OVC champions are looking to go back-to-back and win their fifth regular OVC title.
Morehead State, the 2025 OVC regular season co-champion with the Panthers, was picked to win the OVC, followed by Southeast Missouri and Southern Indiana rounding out the top three. Trailing the Panthers in the poll, Lindenwood was selected to finish fifth, while SIUE was slotted at six. Concluding the nine-team preseason poll, UT Martin was picked to finish seventh, while Western Illinois landed in eighth and Tennessee State rounded out the poll in ninth.
Panthers Returning All-OVC
Katie Kopshever and Ariadna Pereles are coach Millar's two returning All-OVC members from the 2025 squad. Kopshever was named to the first team All-OVC after totaling 326 kills (3.02 KPS) and 261 digs (2.42 DPS), recording 21 double-digit kill games, and posting 11 double-doubles (kills and digs). She ranked ninth in the OVC in kills per set and ranked ninth in the OVC for points per set with 3.65.
Pereles was named to the second team All-OVC after ranking 16th in the nation and second in the OVC for digs per set with 4.99. During her sophomore season, she led the team with 563 digs and ranked second on the team in assists with 110. Last season, Pereles earned two OVC Defensive Player of the Week awards and recorded a season high of 31 digs against Montana University.
Returning All-OVC
OPP - Katie Kopshever, Jr. - Eastern Illinois
L - Ariadna Pereles, Jr. - Eastern Illinois
RS - Autumn Bax, Jr.- Lindenwood
OH - Hollan Everett, Sr. - Morehead State
MB - Amelia Nott, Sr. - Morehead State
S - Sydney Sennett, Sr. - Morehead State
OH - Lucy Arndt, Sr. - Southeast Missouri
OH - Marin Johnson, Jr. - Southeast Missouri
S - Aysa Thomas, So. - Southern Indiana
OH - Ashby Willis, Sr. - Southern Indiana
Panthers Players to Watch
In addition to the Panthers two returning all-OVC members, EIU has two players to watch for the upcoming season. Sophomore opposite hitter Jorah Rutter and senior setter Hannah Hawkins were placed on the OVC players to watch.
Rutter returns after being the only freshman to see the court last season, appearing in seven matches, recording 11 kills and 8 blocks, and finishing with a .333 hitting percentage.
Hawkins, the newcomer, transferred to EIU from Wichita State. For the Shockers, she appeared in 30 matches totaling 96 assists, which ranked second on the team. Prior to Wichita State, she spent three seasons with High Point (2022-24), appearing in 46 matches and being a member of three consecutive Big South championship teams. In 2023, Hawkins dished out 48 assists in three sets against Charleston Southern, which was the third-most assist in a three-set match by any NCAA Division I player. A year later, she set a new personal best with 50 assists, six blocks, and five kills against UMBC.
2026 OVC Volleyball Watch List
Hannah Hawkins, Sr., S – Eastern Illinois
Jorah Rutter, So., OPP – Eastern Illinois
Ashley Geluck, Sr., MH - Lindenwood
Dana Grib, Sr., L – Lindenwood
Courtney Fitzgerald, Sr., DS – Morehead State
Ella Warrick, Fr., OH – Morehead State
Reagan Nelson, So., OH – Southeast Missouri
Katy St. John, So., RS – Southeast Missouri
Sophie Robinson, Jr., OH – SIUE
Vienna Elliott, Sr., MB – SIUE
Audrey Small, Jr., L – Southern Indiana
Carley Wright, So., RS – Southern Indiana
Brie Blevins, Jr., MB – Tennessee State
Triniti Jackson, Fr., S – Tennessee State
Chyler Martin, So., OH/OPP – UT Martin
Luli Arcucci, Jr., MB/OPP – UT Martin
Kennedy Adair, Sr., OH – Western Illinois
Georgia Haynes, RS-Fr., RS – Western Illinois
OVC Preseason Poll
1. Morehead State (9) - 116
2. Southeast Missouri (3) - 102
3. Southern Indiana (3) - 99
4. Eastern Illinois (3) - 98
5. Lindenwood – 77
6. SIUE – 63
7. UT Martin – 37
8. Western Illinois – 34
9. Tennessee State – 13
Eastern Illinois begins their 2026 season campaign at the Dayton/Wright State Classic on August 28th for a three-match weekend.
