ROCK HILL, S.C. --- The Tusculum University women's lacrosse team has been picked seventh in the South Atlantic Conference preseason coaches poll, the SAC office announced Thursday.

Sophomore midfielder Mya Halladay has been named preseason All-Conference, with senior Jessie Carolin-Vandenberg, junior Liberty Jones and sophomores Elisha Stack and Sophia Didzbalis honored as Players to Watch.

The Pioneers finished 8-9 overall and 4-7 in the SAC last season, and fifth-year head coach Jenna Agostino welcomes back 11 starters from last year's squad

Halladay (Naramata, B.C.) was third-team All-SAC last season after she set the program single-season record with 88 draw controls, and ranked third in the SAC and 38th in Division II with 5.18 draw controls per game. Halladay had 16 goals and five assists, along with 28 ground balls and 15 caused turnovers, with a season high of nine draw controls against Montevallo. Halladay already ranks in program history in career draw controls with 88.

Carolin-Vandenberg (Yarraville, Australia) had 13 goals and four assists in 17 matches last season, while leading the team with 34 ground balls and 24 caused turnovers. Carolin-Vandenberg has 31 goals and seven assists for 38 points in 49 career games, with 50 caused turnovers, 30 draw controls and 90 ground balls. Her 50 caused turnovers are fifth-most in program history, while her 90 ground balls are eighth-most.

Jones (Columbus, Ind.) was fifth on the team with 21 goals last season, to go along with 19 ground balls and 35 draw controls. Jones has played 32 games across her first two seasons with the Pioneers, scoring 38 goals with nine assists while contributing 40 ground balls, 59 draw controls and 14 caused turnovers.

Stack (Lockport, Ill.) was third-team All-South Atlantic Conference on attack, ranking second in the SAC and 27th in Division II with 36 assists and fifth in the conference with a team-high 72 points. Stack also scored 36 goals during her freshman season, while tying the program single-game records for points (12) and assists (eight). Her 36 assists are the third-most in a season in program history while her 72 points are fourth-most by a Pioneer.

Didzbalis (Woodstock, Ga.) was fourth on the team with 24 goals last season and added 18 ground balls and 26 draw controls. Didzbalis had four games with three goals or more, including four goals against Thomas More and Mars Hill.

Wingate received nine of 11 first-place votes to take first place in the poll, with Anderson taking the other two first-place votes for second place. Lenoir-Rhyne is third, followed by Newberry, UVA Wise and Lincoln Memorial in the top six.

The Pioneers are seventh in the poll, trailed by Catawba, Coker, Mars Hill and Emory & Henry.

Tusculum opens the 2026 season on Saturday, Feb. 7 at North Greenville.

2026 SAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches Poll

2026 SAC Women's Lacrosse Preseason All-Conference

Attack
A – Kirra Olson, Lenoir-Rhyne
A – Ava Skeffington, Anderson
A – Josie Tinnerello, Lincoln Memorial
A – Logen Davis, UVA Wise

Midfield
MF – Megan Muir, Anderson
MF – Emma Toole, Anderson
MF – Mya Halladay, Tusculum
MF – Ellie Wilkins, Anderson

Defense
D – Kathryn McCabe, Wingate
D – Krysta Churns, Wingate
D – Meredith Dawson, Anderson
D – Taryn Moreno, UVA Wise

Goalkeeper
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