NORFOLK, Va. - Norfolk State's Gabby Gilbert earned a spot on the Preseason All-MEAC team, while the Spartans were predicted to fourth place in the league, announced by the conference office Wednesday morning.
 
The league's head coaches and sports information directors voted on the preseason teams and predicted order of finish.
 
Gilbert, a two-time All-MEAC First Team selection, ranked second in the conference in each of these three categories: kills per set (4.04), points per set (4.68), and total points (473).
 
Gilbert posted 20 or more kills six times last season, while recording 10 or more kills in 26 out of 28 matches played.

Norfolk State collected one first-place vote and 73 total points in the poll. Coppin State placed third with 98 points, just ahead of the Spartans.
 
Howard led the poll with 116 points and eight first-place votes, followed by Delaware State with 114 points and seven first-place votes.
 
Rya McKinnon from Howard earned 2025 Preseason Player of the Year honors. She joined her teammates Leah Reeves and Claire Simpson on the Preseason All-MEAC Team, along with Coppin State's Coco Figueroa and TaKenya Stafford and Delaware State's Gerren Tomlin.
 
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