ROCK HILL, S.C. - The South Atlantic Conference (SAC) has released their women's lacrosse preseason rankings, as voted on by the conferece coaches. Head coach Shannon McHale and the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears have been picked to finish third, just behind Wingate and Anderson.

Attacker Kirra Olson and goalkeeper Sally Freisen were named to the Preseason All-Conference team while Anneleise Meyer and Jessica Mikesell were listed as Players to Watch.

The Lenoir-Rhyne women's lacrosse team had a strong 2025 campaign, finishing with an 11-8 (8-3 SAC) record. This included a six-game win streak in the middle of the season, a win over nationally ranked Limestone, and a conference semi-final appearance. The Bears' 11 wins are it's most since the 2019 season.

Lenoir-Rhyne opens their schedule with five straight home matchups, beginning on Sunday, February 22, vs. Rollins. This is followed by home  games against Lynn and Seton Hill before they host Emory & Henry on Wednesday, March 4, in the SAC opener. Mid March will consist of two games in Florida at Embry-Riddle and Florida Southern. The regular season closes with home games against Anderson on Saturday, April 11, and Coker on Wednesday, April 22. 

The South Atlantic Conference Tournament quarterfinals and semi-finals will take place on Saturday, April 25, and Wednesday, April 29, at the site of the higher seed. The SAC Championship will be on Saturday, May 2, at the Matthews Sportsplex in Matthews, North Carolina.

2026 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE WOMEN'S LACROSSE PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Wingate - 119 points (9 first-place votes)
2. Anderson - 106 points (2 first-place votes)
3. Lenoir-Rhyne - 102 points
4. Newberry - 99 points
5. UVA Wise - 83 points
6. Lincoln Memorial - 74 points
7. Tusculum - 67 points
8. Catawba - 58 points
9. Coker - 44 points
10. Mars Hill - 42 points
11. Emory & Henry - 31 points

2026 SAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason All-Conference
A – Kirra Olson, Lenoir-Rhyne
A – Ava Skeffington, Anderson
A – Josie Tinnerello, Lincoln Memorial
A – Logen Davis, UVA Wise
MF – Megan Muir, Anderson
MF – Emma Toole, Anderson
MF – Mya Halladay, Tusculum
MF – Ellie Wilkins, Anderson
D – Kathryn McCabe, Wingate
D – Krysta Churns, Wingate
D – Meredith Dawson, Anderson
D – Taryn Moreno, UVA Wise
GK – Sally Friesen, Lenoir-Rhyne

Players to Watch
Catawba: Audrey Adelsberger, Allison Filosa, Kylie Harris, Abby Shuren, Madison Widecki
Coker: Kate Halcro, Mia MacMillan, Olivia Schmidt, Veronica Richardson, Sydnee Schrauben
Emory & Henry: Justyce Jones, Mary Martinez, Alex Costello, Megan D'Amore, Madison Weaver
Lenoir-Rhyne: Anneleise Meyer, Jessica Mikesell
Lincoln Memorial: Sage Leax, Brookelyn Walls, Ryan Smith, Jaiden Jaynes
Mars Hill: Makenna Olson, Kendall Middleton, Madison Welch, Abby Cleveland, Ashley Holland
Newberry: Ella Todd, Julia Zayachowsky, Lana Howell, Shannon Creagh
Tusculum: Jessie Carolin-Vandenberg, Sophia Didzbalis, Liberty Jones, Elisha Stack
UVA Wise: Issie Brown, Noley Hiller, Kaylea Paterson
Wingate: Bree Solero, Deirdre Jones, Sophie Pavlick