SEC volleyball outlook

It was a historic year in Southeast Conference volleyball last fall, as the Washington Demons joined the ranks of champions for the first time in school history.

Washington earned a top seed in the conference tournament, and defeated Burlington to win the crown in the de facto championship, going a perfect 5-0 in tournament play.

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The Demons did have to get through a tough battle at the hands of then two-time defending champion Fairfield on Day 1. The Trojans finished third, beating Mt. Pleasant, Fort Madison and Keokuk in the round robin battle.

Mt. Pleasant scooped up a pair of wins over Lee County teams, beating both Fort Madison and Keokuk in the 2024 tournament.

Heading into the 2025 season, four members from last season’s All-SEC first team are eligible to return, including last season’s Player of the Year, Leighton Messinger of Washington. Six members of the second team are eligible to return.

Listed below are the final SEC tournament standings from 2024, as well as last year’s All-Conference team, with projected returners listed in italics.

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2024 SEC TOURNAMENT STANDINGS

1. Washington 5-0

2. Burlington 4-1

3. Fairfield 3-2

4. Mt. Pleasant 2-3

4. Fort Madison 1-4

4. Keokuk 0-5

2024 SEC All-Conference 1st Team

Player of the Year: Leighton Messinger, 11, Washington

Lilly Bergren, 12, Fairfield

Annalise Buxton, 12, Burlington

Gemma Plummer, 10, Burlington

Lily Newell, 11, Burlington

Layla Green, 10, Washington

Lauren Hinrichsen, 12, Washington

2024 SEC All-Conference 2nd Team

Dayonna Davis, 11, Ft. Madison

Addison Clark, 11, Mt. Pleasant

Alex Scott, 11, Mt. Pleasant

Sophia Young, 10, Burlington

Faith Jones, 11, Fairfield

Sydney Schroeder, 11, Burlington

Ella Greiner, 12, Washington

2024 SEC All-Conference Honorable Mention

Sela Rascon, 10, Burlington

Daphne Brown, 11, Burlington

Kendra Boatman, 11, Keokuk

Kylie Sisk, 11, Keokuk

Taylor Miksch, 11, Washington

Ellie Farmer, 10, Washington

Isabel McCready, 11, Fairfield

Claire Thompson, 12, Fairfield

Sydney McEntee, 11, Fort Madison

Kylie Lumino, 10, Fort Madison

Savannah Slobodnik, 12, Mt. Pleasant

Kynlee White, 11, Mt. Pleasant