FARMINGTON, Utah – Idaho State senior middle blocker Jaydin Watts has been named to the 2026 Big Sky Preseason All-Conference Team, while the Bengals were selected to finish tied for third in the Big Sky Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference announced Wednesday.
Watts enters her senior season following another strong year in the middle for the Bengals. The Lancaster, California, native earned All-Big Sky Second Team honors in 2025, one year after being named First Team All-Big Sky in 2024.
In 2025, Watts finished with 257 kills while hitting .366, averaging 2.32 kills per set over 111 sets played. Her .366 hitting percentage ranked tied for fourth in the Big Sky. She was also one of Idaho State's top defensive threats at the net, finishing fourth in the conference with 124 total blocks and averaging 1.12 blocks per set. Watts led Idaho State with 2.97 points per set and finished second on the team in kills.
Watts has established herself as one of the conference's most consistent middle blockers throughout her career. She has ranked inside the top 100 nationally in total blocks in each of the past two seasons and enters 2026 with 702 career kills and 366 total blocks across 88 matches and 327 sets. She has produced a .330 career hitting percentage while averaging 2.15 kills and 1.12 blocks per set.
Wednesday's honor marks the second consecutive season Watts has received preseason recognition from the conference. She was selected as the Big Sky Preseason MVP in 2025 before going on to earn Second Team All-Conference honors.
Idaho State was selected to finish tied for third alongside Montana in the 2026 Big Sky Preseason Coaches' Poll. Both programs received 72 points.
Northern Colorado earned the top spot with 88 points and four first-place votes, narrowly edging Northern Arizona, which received four first-place votes and 85 points. Montana received two first-place votes, while Utah Tech collected the remaining first-place vote.
The preseason recognition comes after Idaho State made a run to the Big Sky Tournament championship match in 2025. The eighth-seeded Bengals defeated Northern Arizona and Weber State in consecutive five-set matches to advance to the championship match for the first time since 2015. Idaho State became the first No. 8 seed in Big Sky Tournament history to reach the championship match. The Bengals' tournament victories capped a season in which ISU finished 13-18 overall and 7-9 in Big Sky play.
Idaho State returns a veteran group in 2026 with Watts leading the way as the Bengals prepare for their fifth season under head coach Sean Carter.
2026 Big Sky Preseason Coaches' Poll
- Northern Colorado (4) – 88
- Northern Arizona (4) – 85
T3. Idaho State – 72
T3. Montana (2) – 72
- Weber State – 69
- Montana State – 61
- Utah Tech (1) – 57
- Portland State – 43
- Idaho – 25
- Eastern Washington – 18
- Southern Utah – 15
First-place votes in parentheses.
2026 Big Sky Preseason All-Conference Team
Hanah Stoddard, Northern Arizona (Preseason MVP)
Rose Moore, Weber State
Delaney Russell, Montana
Jaydin Watts, Idaho State
Alayna Tessena, Northern Colorado
Gigi Greenlee, Northern Arizona
Alivia Eikenberg, Portland State
Joelie Spelts, Montana State
Nerea Alvarez Jorge, Northern Colorado
Teagan Jaynes, Montana State
Gracie Cagle, Montana
