LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Junior defensive specialist/libero Payton Parsons has made Bellarmine University volleyball program history before the first serve of the season is even hit.

Parsons was honored as one of the eight players names to the 2026 Preseason All-ASUN Team, becoming the first Knight ever to garner the accolade.

A native of Coxs Creek, KY, Parsons has been a stalwart defender for Bellarmine since she stepped foot on the court as a freshman. She has played in all 54 matches and in 202 of 204 sets over the last two seasons. In 2025, she led the Knights and ranked seventh in the ASUN with 419 digs, good for 3.95 per set, the sixth-best mark in the league. She is second all-time in Bellarmine's Division I era with 699 digs and is 301 away from becoming just the second player to reach 1,000 career digs in the D1 era.

In addition to the Preseason All-ASUN Team, the conference announced its preseason superlative awards. Jacksonville's Haley Yount was named the Preseason Player and Defensive Player of the Year while North Florida's Sofia Dawson was named the Preseason Setter of the Year.
 
2026 Preseason All-ASUN Team
Payton Parsons, Bellarmine
Julija Grubisic Cabo, FGCU
Claire Mrukowski, Jacksonville
Haley Yount, Jacksonville
Kendall Newbold, North Florida
Elizabeth Layson, Queens
Zuzanna Bury, Stetson
Vitoria Stedile, Stetson
* a tie in voting resulted in an 8-person Preseason All-ASUN Team
 
2026 Preseason Coaches Poll
Pl. Team (1st Place votes) Points
1. FGCU (6) 62
2. Jacksonville (1) 54
3. Lipscomb 46
4. North Florida 39
5. Queens (1) 38
6. Stetson 19
7. Bellarmine 16
8. West Florida 14

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