LUBBOCK, Texas (Aug. 20, 2026) – Lubbock Christian University sophomore
Camdyn Sears has been named the Lone Star Conference Preseason Setter of the Year, while the defending LSC regular-season co-champion Lady Chaparrals were picked third in the conference's 2026 preseason volleyball poll announced Thursday. She was also named as a LSC Setter to Watch and joined
Ramsey Clark (Defensive Player to Watch) and
Leigh Jespersen (Offensive Player to Watch), as each LSC team had a trio of LSC Players to Watch for the 2026 season.
Sears becomes the first LCU volleyball player to earn an LSC preseason individual player of the year honor since the Lady Chaparrals joined the conference. LCU has previously had student-athletes selected as preseason Players to Watch, but Sears' recognition marks the program's first preseason positional or individual superlative from the conference.
The Midland, Texas, native is coming off a historic freshman campaign in which she was named both the LSC Setter of the Year and Freshman of the Year, becoming the first player in conference history to claim both awards in the same season. She also earned First Team All-LSC and LSC Championship All-Tournament Team honors before receiving AVCA All-Region and All-America honorable mention recognition.
Sears led the LSC with 1,309 assists and averaged 10.56 assists per set in 2025. Her assist total ranked seventh nationally and represented the second-highest single-season mark of LCU's rally-scoring era and the 10th-most in program history. She added 385 digs, 89 kills, 12 service aces and 29 total blocks while producing 23 double-doubles.
Her play helped direct an LCU offense that led the conference in assists per set and kills per set during a 25-8 season. Sears also collected eight LSC Player of the Week awards, earning Setter of the Week four times and Freshman of the Week four times.
Sears was joined among LCU's preseason honorees by senior defensive specialist/libero
Ramsey Clark and redshirt junior outside hitter/right-side
Leigh Jespersen, who were each selected to the conference's Players to Watch list. The LSC's preseason Players to Watch selections were nominated by member institutions.
Jespersen was selected to the offensive Players to Watch list after transferring to LCU from Hardin-Simmons. The Lorena, Texas, native started all 27 matches for the Cowgirls in 2025 and led the team with 264 kills, averaging 2.84 kills per set. She also registered 296 digs, 49 service aces, 25 total blocks and 327 points.
Her performance earned First Team All-American Southwest Conference honors, along with CSC Academic All-District and Academic All-ASC recognition. Jespersen helped Hardin-Simmons finish 17-10 and advance to the ASC Championship match for the program's first appearance in the final since 2013.
Jespersen previously earned Second Team All-American Southwest Conference honors in 2024 after recording 140 kills and 218 digs in 24 matches. She began her collegiate career at Dallas Baptist, where she redshirted during the 2023 season.
Clark represents LCU on the defensive Players to Watch list for the second time in three seasons after previously receiving preseason recognition from the LSC in 2024. The Midland native appeared in all 33 matches for the Lady Chaps last season and ranked 19th in the conference with 321 digs.
Clark reached double figures in digs 16 times during the 2025 campaign and enters her senior season with 665 career digs through 85 matches. She also led LCU with 29 service aces last season, added 21 assists and posted a season-high 22 digs against both Texas Woman's and Oklahoma Christian. Clark earned CSC Academic All-District honors following the season.
In the team poll, LCU received 837 points and three first-place votes to finish behind preseason favorite Angelo State and West Texas A&M. Angelo State received 951 points and 41 of the possible 54 first-place votes, while West Texas A&M collected 883 points and seven first-place votes.
The Lady Chaps' third-place projection comes one season after LCU shared the LSC regular-season championship with Angelo State. LCU finished 25-8 overall and 15-2 in conference play, advanced to the LSC Championship final and made the program's first NCAA Division II Tournament appearance.
The preseason poll and individual honors were voted on by LSC head coaches, sports information directors and media members.
LCU enters its first season under head coach Tyler Neal and will play 27 regular-season matches, including 17 conference contests. The Lady Chaparrals have one final preseason tune-up remaining, traveling to Abilene, Texas, for a scrimmage against Hardin-Simmons at 2 p.m. Friday.
The regular season opens Aug. 28 at the Virginia Harris/Jeanie Miller Invitational in Gunnison, Colorado, where LCU will face New Mexico Highlands and Sul Ross State on opening day before meeting Southwestern Oklahoma State and host Western Colorado on Aug. 29.
Following trips to the Barry Invitational in Miami Shores, Florida, and the LSC Crossover in San Angelo, Texas, LCU begins conference play Sept. 17 at Sul Ross State. The Lady Chaps' home opener is Sept. 25 against St. Mary's at Rip Griffin Center.
The 2026 season follows the most successful NCAA-era campaign in program history, as LCU captured its first LSC regular-season championship, reached the conference tournament championship match and advanced to the NCAA Division II postseason for the first time.
2026 LSC VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL
- Angelo State – 951 points (41 first-place votes)
- West Texas A&M – 883 (7)
- Lubbock Christian – 837 (3)
- UT Tyler – 778
- St. Mary's – 698 (1)
- Texas Woman's – 691 (1)
- Oklahoma Christian – 645
- Texas A&M-Kingsville – 585
- DBU – 527 (1)
- Midwestern State – 509
- St. Edward's – 463
- UT Permian Basin – 410
- UT Dallas – 347
- Western New Mexico – 287
- Texas A&M International – 210
- Cameron – 172
- Eastern New Mexico – 167
- Sul Ross State – 74
LCU PRESEASON HONORS
Camdyn Sears – LSC Preseason Setter of the Year / Setter Player to Watch
Leigh Jespersen – Offensive Player to Watch
Ramsey Clark – Defensive Player to Watch
