PORTLAND, Ore. - The GNAC released the 2026 Volleyball Preseason All-Conference Team on Wednesday afternoon, with Northwest Nazarene's Abby Black earning the honor.

Black returns for her redshirt-senior season in 2026 after earning First Team All-GNAC honors following the 2025 season. The outside hitter appeared in 90 sets in 2025, registering 295 kills (3.28 k/s) and 50 blocks (four solo, 46 assisted).

She is one of 14 athletes named to the Preseason All-GNAC squad. Alaska, Alaska Anchorage, Central Washington, Seattle Pacific, Simon Fraser, and Western Washington each had two athletes named to the list, with Saint Martin's also represented by one athlete.

Black and the Nighthawks will open the regular season in California as they compete in the Otter Invitational. Their first game is set against the University of Sioux Falls on Thursday, the 27th, at 5 p.m. Pacific Time. The three-day tournament will see the Nighthawks face USF, Dominican (CA), CSU Monterey Bay, and CSU San Marcos.

GNAC play is set to begin on Sept. 10, with NNU opening conference action in Bellingham against Western Washington. After a long run on the road, the Nighthawks will host their first home game on Sept. 17 against Alaska Fairbanks at 7 p.m.