The United Athletic Conference (UAC) released its 2026 preseason rankings this week, positioning North Alabama firmly in the conversation for a breakout year. The Lions earned a second‑place vote behind only Eastern Kentucky, bolstered by a first‑place ballot from conference head coaches, signaling strong expectations from peers and staff alike.
Headlining the accolades, senior captain Adelyn Speight was crowned the UAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Her recognition marks the first time a North Alabama defender has captured the honor since the program transitioned to Division I in 2018, underscoring a historic shift in the team’s defensive reputation.
Speight’s defensive dominance was on full display during the 2025 campaign. She led the squad with 99 denied shots, posted the lowest goals‑against average in school history at 12, and logged every minute of play — 1,730 minutes — earning the nickname "Speight Wall of Florence" among fans and analysts.
The preseason team selections also highlighted the Lions’ depth on both ends of the field. Rising sophomore Avery Stojakovich earned a spot on the UAC Preseason All‑UAC First Team as an All‑Freshman, having started all 19 games and contributed 1,548 minutes of pitch time last season. Junior Avery Smith secured an at‑large berth, tying Eastern Kentucky’s Lauren Link for the spot and reinforcing a backline that the conference has come to fear.
A Historic Preseason for the Lions
The 2026 preseason honors represent the most consecutive awards in North Alabama’s Division I history, with three distinct recognitions announced for the program this year. Historically, the Lions have fluctuated between seventh, sixth, sixth, sixth, tenth, twelfth, fourth, and ninth in preseason polls since 2018, making this run of sustained acclaim a notable departure from past patterns.
The excitement will culminate on August 12, when the Lions open their UAC schedule on the road against East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee. The matchup promises to showcase the newly forged defensive identity that Speight anchors, while the team looks to translate preseason buzz into on‑field success.