ARLINGTON, Texas (August 10, 2026) – The newly-formed United Athletic Conference revealed the 2026 preseason rankings on Monday, as the head coaches voted North Alabama second of eight teams.
This is the highest preseason poll selection since North Alabama moved to the Division I ranks in 2018. From 2018-2025, the Lions combined for three preseason all-conference selections in Haley Yarber (2019) and Alice Bussey (2023, 2024). The three honors in 2026 are the most ahead of a season for the Lions in Division I history.
"We are excited to be joining the United Athletic Conference for this fall season," said head coach Chris Walker. "The preseason polls are a credit to the hard work done by the 2025 team, the quality of the returners and the new players we have joining our program. Now, all the hard work is ahead of us, and we are going to take it game by game."
Alongside the highest selection during the Division I era, UNA's Adelyn Speight was selected as the UAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. The senior captain becomes the first Lion to earn a conference preseason player of the year award since the move to Division I.
This nod follows Speight's successful junior season as the anchor of perhaps the best backline in the ASUN as a center back. She earned Second Team All-ASUN honors, becoming the first selection since Hannah Guthrie in 2023.
Dubbed the 'Speight Wall of Florence' for her terrific backline play, she was one of two Lions to play all 1,730 minutes in 2025. Her defensive strides led to denying 99 opponent shots and the fewest goals in a season in school history at 12. Speight earned ASUN Defender of the Week honors after leading back-to-back shutouts in a single week last season.
"I'm excited for Addie as she had a fantastic year last year," said Walker. "She has continued to work hard this past spring and summer to get ready for this upcoming season. She is the upmost deserving of the award."
Alongside Speight is rising sophomore Avery Stojakovich who manned the midfield all last season en route to her ASUN All-Freshman selection. She played and started in all 19 games for the Lions last season with 1,548 minutes on the pitch. Stojakovich earned the first All-Freshman Team honors since 2023 as she disrupted passing lanes and helped the Lion defense allow .67 goals per games with nine shutouts.
Continuing the defensive track, junior defender Avery Smith earned an at-large bid as she tied Eastern Kentucky's Lauren Link for the spot. Smith was a part of the terrific back line that was one of the most feared during the final season in ASUN. Smith was an integral piece of clearing shots, denying goal opportunities and blocking shots from her right back position.
"Credit to Avery Smith and Avery Stojakovich on earning a spot on the preseason team," said Walker. "Both were provided defensive play that made our team what it was last season. We are excited about the preseason honors but look forward to the hard work for the 2026 season that is just now beginning."
North Alabama enters the newly constructed UAC behind only Eastern Kentucky in the preseason polls, who was unanimously voted as the top team. However, UNA did pull out a first-place vote — the only team opposite of EKU to do so.
The second-place selection was a vote based on the head coaches from conference schools which combine of EKU, Little Rock, Abilene Christian, Tarleton State, Central Arkansas, Austin Peay and West Georgia.
During the Division I era, the Lions have been chosen seventh, sixth, sixth, sixth, 10th, 12th, fourth and ninth, respectively, since 2018. The highest ranking came ahead of the 2024 season where the Lions were tabbed fourth amongst the 12 ASUN teams.
North Alabama begins the first season in the UAC on Wednesday, August 12 against ETSU in Johnson City, Tenn. at Summer-Taylors Stadium at 6 p.m.
Preseason Coaches Poll
Pl. Team (1st Place Votes)
1. EKU* (7)
2. North Alabama (1)
3. Little Rock
T4. Abilene Christian
T4. Central Arkansas
6. Tarleton State
7. Austin Peay
8. West Georgia
*denotes a unanimous decision
() - number of first place votes
Preseason Awards
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Maria Schuller, Little Rock
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Adelyn Speight, North Alabama
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year: Jordan LeVasseur, EKU
Preseason All-UAC Team
F- Avery May, EKU
F- Ana Manning, EKU
F- Maria Schuller, Little Rock
M- Chiara Premoli, EKU
M- Avery Stojakovich, North Alabama
M- Sakkio Manabe, Central Arkansas
D- Rachel Robinson, EKU
D- Adelyn Speight, North Alabama
D- Candice Kilderry, Little Rock
AL - Lauren Link, EKU
AL- Avery Smith, North Alabama
GK- Jordan LeVasseur, EKU
*12-member team due to a tie in voting for at-large
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
