GREENVILLE, S.C. – Furman's Skylar Hilmer and Lily Toole were named Big South Preseason All-Conference on Tuesday while the Paladins were picked to finish in third place by the league's head coaches in the preseason women's lacrosse poll.

Hilmer and Toole both earn the first preseason accolade of their careers.

Furman picked up a total of 62 points in the preseason poll for the third-place projection. The Paladins finished in a three-way tie for first in the conference standings last season along with High Point and Mercer.

Mercer is favored to win the Big South in 2026 after accumulating seven of the nine first-place votes for 79 points. High Point comes in second place with two first-place votes and 73 points. Wofford (48 points) and Winthrop (44 points) follow Furman in the standings in fourth and fifth places, respectively. A total of one point separates Gardner-Webb (29 points) and Radford (28 points) in sixth and seventh places. Presbyterian (8^th place, 22 points) and Longwood (9^th place, 20 points) round out the preseason poll.

Hilmer was a second team All-Big South pick last season after transferring to Furman from Eastern Michigan. The San Diego, Calif., native started in all 18 games and was second on the team with 78 draws. She added nine points on six goals and three assists while contributing 16 ground balls and nine caused turnovers. Hilmer concluded the season scoring five of her six goals in the final three games and matched her career high of three goals in a 22-9 win over Winthrop in the regular season finale. She won a career best nine draws twice versus Wofford and Mercer.

Toole finished with the best offensive season by a freshman in program history, earning Big South Freshman of the Year and second team All-Big South honors. The Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., native posted 85 points on 64 goals and 21 assists. She broke the school single-season freshman record for points, goals, and assists, while ranking second on the team in goals and assists. Toole was second in the Big South in goals and fourth in points. She broke the school single-game points record in a 20-18 victory at Wofford after finishing with career highs of 12 points, eight goals, and four assists. She was named the Big South Freshman of the Week six times and Offensive Player of the Week once.

The Paladins won a school record 14 games in 2025 and claimed a share of the Big South Regular Season Championship for the first time in program history. Furman returns a total of 24 letterwinners from last season including seven starters. The Paladins also welcome 18 newcomers.

Furman opens the 2026 season on Tuesday, February 10 when it travels to Clemson for a 6 p.m. opening draw against the Tigers, who are ranked ninth in the preseason by USA Lacrosse and 12^th by the IWCLA, from the Clemson Lacrosse Complex.

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2026 Big South Women's Lacrosse Preseason Poll
1.  Mercer (7), 79
2.  High Point (2), 73
3.  Furman, 62
4.  Wofford, 48
5.  Winthrop, 44
6.  Gardner-Webb, 29
7.  Radford, 28
8.  Presbyterian, 22
9.  Longwood, 20

2026 Big South Women's Lacrosse Preseason All-Conference Team
ATT – Caroline Glus, Mercer
ATT – Lily Toole, Furman
ATT – Shannon Smith, High Point
MF – Ansley Walters, Mercer
MF – Bella Germani, High Point
MF – Olivia Graebner, Wofford
D – Barrett Rowe, Wofford
D – Julia Dustin, High Point
D – Avery West, Presbyterian
GK – Ava Welsh, High Point
AL – Skylar Hilmer, D, Furman
AL – Haley Urban, D, High Point

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:  Caroline Glus, Mercer
Preseason Midfielder of the Year:  Ansley Walters, Mercer
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:  Barrett Rowe, Wofford