Stewart, Mairs, Schabort Named to Pac-12 Preseason Impact List
SAN DIEGO – San Diego State volleyball players Zara Stewart, Kendall Mairs and Ella Schabort and were named to the preseason Pac-12 Impact List, while the Aztecs were picked to finish seventh in the conference preseason coaches poll.
Both announcements were made Tuesday by the league office in San Ramon, California.
San Diego State embarks on its inaugural season of volleyball competition as Pac-12 members, joining conference stalwarts Oregon State and Washington State, along with former Mountain West rivals Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and Utah State, while Gonzaga and Texas State complete the revived circuit.
A heralded prep recruit, Stewart garnered all-Mountain West accolades at the libero position as a freshman after ranking third in the conference with 3.89 digs per set against league opponents. The Bonita Springs, Florida, native appeared in all 123 sets for the Aztecs in 2025, collecting a team-high 455 digs and 32 service aces while ranking fourth on the squad with 169 setting assists.
Stewart finished fifth in the MW for all matches with 3.70 digs per set in 2025. She recorded double-digit digs in 29 of 31 matches, including a career-high 26 scoops in a home victory over New Mexico, and served up multiple aces on 11 times.
A sophomore setter, Mairs also looks to build on a highly successful freshman campaign when she led the team with 573 assists (5.26/set) and ranked 10th in the Mountain West with 5.26 assists per set. In addition, the Camas, Washington, native topped the squad with 11 double-doubles and was slotted second with 253 digs (2.32/set).
A starter in 19 of 27 matches last season, Mairs handed out 20 or more assists on 17 occasions, including a career-high 27 helpers against non-conference foe San Diego.
Not to be outdone, Schabort made a huge splash in her Scarlet and Black debut as well last year after transferring from Binghamton University. The 6-2 outside hitter ranked second on the team with 237 kills while occupying the third spot with 1.94 kills per set and 26 service aces. Additionally, she was slotted fourth on the squad with 199 digs (1.63/set).
A starter in 23 of 31 matches during her junior campaign, Schabort reached the double-digit kill plateau on 12 occasions, recording a stellar .462 hitting percentage in a four-set triumph at Boise State when she finished with 14 put-aways in 26 attempts with just two errors.
In the Pac-12 preseason coaches poll, Colorado State was picked to win the conference, followed by Oregon State, Texas State and Boise State, while Washington State rounded out the top five.
San Diego State opens its 2026 regular-season schedule this weekend when it travels to the Pacific Northwest for the Washington Tournament, Aug. 28-30, in Seattle, where the Aztecs will battle IU Indy, host Washington and UC Irvine on successive days.
Season and single-match tickets for SDSU volleyball’s home schedule are available for purchase online at GoAztecs.com
2026 Pac-12 Volleyball
Preseason Coaches Poll (as voted by the league's head coaches)
1. Colorado State
2. Oregon State
3. Texas State
4. Boise State
5. Washington State
6. Utah State
7. San Diego State
8. Gonzaga
9. Fresno State
2026 Pac-12 Volleyball
Preseason Impact List
San Diego State
L Zara Stewart
S Kendall Mairs
OH Ella Schabort
Boise State
S Tehya Maeva
L Melia Barlow
OH Sydney Dreves
Colorado State
MB Eve Wilson
S Erin Debiec
OH Halle Jameson
Fresno State
OH Jenna Legault
OPP Kiley Devery
MB Brooklyn Washington
Gonzaga
OH/OPP Claire Wagstaff
OH Veronica Sorensen
L/DS Maggie Rickert
Oregon State
OH AC Froehlich
MB Alana Marrs
OPP Taylor Treahy
Texas State
OH Brooke Bentke
MB India Bennet
L Jasmine Purakal
Utah State
OH Sami Blackett
OH Olivia Ruy
MB Ava Napierski
Washington State
OH Eliana T'ia
L Kambree Rodriguez
MB Kryssa Moerman