OKLAHOMA CITY – With the 2026 season beginning this week, the Sooner Athletic Conference announced its preseason poll voted upon by the league's head coaches on Monday morning as the MACU Volleyball team was picked to finish third before getting things underway on Thursday.

The Evangels received 96 points on the preseason list, finishing five ahead of Oklahoma City (91) and nine in-front of Wayland Baptist (87) to round out the top five. Last year's SAC Co-Champion Texas Wesleyan was picked to finish at the top of the standings with 116 points and received five first-place votes while the SAC Tournament Champion Nelson placed right behind with 112 points and also earned five first-place votes.
 
SEASON PREVIEW

• Players to Watch:
  • Top Returners:
    • Seyi Atolagbe – SO – MB
      • SAC Freshman of the Year, All-SAC First Team, NCCAA Second Team All-American
      • Broke team's NAIA Era (2007-Present)  Single Season Attack Percentage Record (.379)
      • 2025 Stats: 286 Kills (2.33 K/S), 82 Blocks (0.67 B/S)
    • Mia Benson – SO – MB
      • 2025 Stats: 217 Kills (1.89 K/S), .215 ATK%, 78 Blocks (0.65 B/S), 37 Aces (0.31 SA/S)
    • Marcela Nalin – SR – OPP/OH
      • 2025 Stats: 217 Kills (1.89 K/S), .153 ATK%, 46 Blocks (0.40 B/S)
    • Madi Trayler – SO – OPP
      • 2025 Stats: 151 Kills (1.89 K/S), .168 ATK%,
  • Top Newcomers:
    • Elena Kagiali – SR – OH – Previous School: Oklahoma Panhandle State
      • 2026 NAIA All-American, 2026 SAC Player of the Year
      • 2025 Stats: 456 Kills (4.04 K/S), .240 ATK%, 375 Digs (3.32 D/S), 35 Aces (0.31 SA/S)
    • Gracelyn Skaggs – JR – DS/L – Previous School: Rose State (Okla.)
      • 2025 Stats: 558 Digs (5.21 D/S), .948 RCV%
    • Jasmine Liongco – R-SO – S – Previous School: Southern Nazarene (Okla.)
      • 2025 Stats: 98 Assists (1.88 A/S), 82 Digs (1.58 D/S)
    • Kristen Straughn – FR – S – Previous School: Moore HS
      • All-State Honoree (2025), State Semifinalist (2024)
• Last Season at a Glance:
  • 2025 Record: 20-14 (14-8 SAC)
  • Mid-America Christian wrapped up the 2025 campaign by finishing in a tie for third in the SAC standings, going 14-8 in league play and completing its fifth-straight season under head coach Holly McKamie where the team won 20 or more matches after going 20-14 overall.
  • The Evangels captured their third NCCAA Central Region Championship in five years after they defeated Sterling in straight-sets by a score of 25-21, 25-17, 25-23 on Nov. 20, 2025 in Sterling, Kan.
  • MACU qualified for its seventh-straight NCCAA National Championship Tournament.
• What to Expect This Season:
  • Under seventh-year Head Coach Holly McKamie, Mid-America Christian brings in a strong mix of returning talent and newcomers that should make the Evangels one of the top teams to watch in the SAC.
  • On the returning side, sophomore middle blocker Seyi Atolagbe will look to continue being an imposing presence on the inside after being named the SAC Freshman of the Year and an NCCAA Second Team All-American last year. On-top of finishing second on the team in kills last season, she shattered the program's single season hitting percentage record when she mashed for a .379 attack rate.
  • Sophomore middle blocker Mia Benson and sophomore Madi Trayler also put together strong freshman campaigns for the Evangels in 2025 while senior opposite side hitter Marcela Nalin will look to provide strong veteran leadership in the attack from the right side.
  • On the incoming side, the Evangels will be looking to add some strong production in the attack from the outside senior outside hitter Elena Kagiali highlighting the newcomers. Last season at Oklahoma Panhandle State, Kagiali was named the SAC Player of the Year and was named an NAIA All-American after tallying 456 kills on a .240 hitting percentage and also provided stellar production from the service line and the back row for the Aggies as well.
  • Coach McKamie also speaks volumes about her two incoming setters in sophomore Jasmine Lionco, who comes to MACU from NCAA Division II Southern Nazarene and freshman Kristen Straughn, who earned All-State honors in 2026 for Moore High School.
  • In the back row, Rose State transfer Gracelyn Skaggs will look to lead the team efforts after a sensational 2025 campaign with the Raiders, amassing 558 Digs at a 5.21 per set rate and posting a solid .948 receive percentage in the service game.
• Key Matches:
  • On-top of a loaded SAC schedule where the Evangels will play everyone twice, MACU will open the season with a four-match slate at the Barnaby's Italian Ice Invitational hosted by Huston Tillotson in Austin, Texas on Thursday and Friday. The Evangels open the slate against the host school on Thursday before playing Health Science and Pharmacy in St. Louis (UHSP). MACU takes on the Friday slate against Avila (Mo.) and Embry-Riddle (Ariz.).
  • Before starting conference play, the Evangels will play a tri-match at Tabor on Aug. 26 as they'll take on host Tabor before playing Baker (Kan.)
  • MACU will host an Alumni Night match against John Brown on Sept. 25 with its Senior Night coming against rival Oklahoma City on Nov. 6.