BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Gulf South Conference announced its 2026 Volleyball Newcomers to Watch List on Thursday, with three Auburn University at Montgomery newcomers earning recognition. Chelsea Daffin, Autumn Harper and Gabriella Wokatsch were each selected to the rookie list.
 
Chelsea Daffin
Daffin, a 5-foot-10 junior outside hitter/opposite from Mobile, Ala., enters her first season with the Warhawks after spending the 2025-26 season at Jones College. Daffin helped the Bobcats claim the MACCC Conference and Region 23 Championships while recording 264 kills and 209 digs.
 
Prior to Jones College, Daffin spent the 2024 season at the University of New Orleans. She played her prep career at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School, where she was a two-time 7A state champion and finished her career with 1,050 kills, 481 digs and 149 blocks.
 
Daffin earned three All-County selections along with AVCA Honorable Mention and AVCA All-Region honors. She was also selected to the South MVP team, the North/South All-Star Game and the All-State Tournament Team in 2021 and 2023. Daffin served as a team captain in 2023.


 

Autumn Harper
Harper, a 5-foot-11 freshman middle blocker from Mobile, Ala., joins AUM following her prep career at Baker High School. Harper earned All-County honors during her high school career and was also a member of the National Honor Society.
 
The incoming middle blocker also competed at the club level before joining the Warhawks.



 
Gabriella Wokatsch
Wokatsch, a 5-foot-10 freshman outside hitter from New Berlin, Wis., comes to AUM following a four-year volleyball career at Eisenhower High School. She earned All-Conference and Academic All-Conference honors while ranking among her team's top performers in kills, hitting percentage, serving, passing and blocks.
 
Wokatsch also competed with the Milwaukee Juniors from 2021-23 before joining Wisconsin Elite from 2024-26. During her final club season, she played up an age group and helped her team finish third in the Premier Division at Under Armour Nationals.
 
Wokatsch was also named an All-Tournament Team selection or top performer at four tournaments during her final club season.




2026 GSC Volleyball Coaches Preseason Poll
1. UAH (7), 79 points
2. Trevecca Nazarene (2), 71 points
3. Lee (1), 65 points
4. Montevallo, 51 points
5. Christian Brothers, 44 points
6. Valdosta State, 43 points
7. Mississippi Christian, 41 points
8. West Alabama, 23 points
9. Union, 18 points
10. AUM, 15 points
First-place votes in parentheses

 
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