LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Shepherd University and Gannon University women's volleyball teams were selected as preseason favorites in the 2025 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Women's Volleyball Preseason Polls,
as voted on by the conference's coaches.
Eastern DIvision
The Shepherd Rams were voted No. 1 in the 2025 PSAC Eastern Division Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll and tallied four first-place votes. The Rams finished the 2024 regular season undefeated in conference play at 14-0 (24-6 overall) and return plenty of talent from that team, including All-PSAC East First Teamers Rylee Lenz (250 kills) and Sophia Ryan (239 kills). Amya Davis (237 kills) and setter Macy Buso (1,025 assists and an All-PSAC East Second Team honor) are also back.
The No. 2 team in the 2025 East poll is East Stroudsburg (two first-place votes), who finished 2024 with a conference record of 9-5 and an overall record of 20-8. Two-time reigning PSAC East Athlete of the Year Anna Coulter is back to follow up on a season that saw her lead the East in hitting percentage (.438), kills (360), kills per set (3.75), points (488), and blocks per set (1.46).
The Shippensburg Raiders are No. 3 in this year's poll and received a pair of first-place votes. Ship was 11-3 in conference play and 17-13 overall and returns plenty of talent, including PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year Shay Kolivoski, All-PSAC East First Team setter Kearstin Davis, and middle blocker Isabelle Bombas (210 kills, 66 blocks.)
No.4 Bloomsburg, No. 5 Millersville, No. 6 West Chester, No. 7 Lock Haven, and No. 8 Kutztown complete the remainder of the 2025 East poll.
Western Division
The Gannon Golden Knights sit atop the 2025 PSAC West Division Preseason Poll for the third consecutive season after collecting four first-place votes. The team finished 2024 with a West-leading record of 13-1 (26-8 overall) and return setter Bengisu Arslan (a PSAC-best 1,276 assists last season), outside hitter Carissa Treser (245 kills) and middle blocker Lauren Atwell (160 kills, 147 blocks.)
The defending PSAC champion IUP Crimson Hawks are the No. 2 team in the 2025 West Poll and received three first-place votes. IUP went 10-4 in conference play last season (24-9 overall) and return PSAC West Freshman of the Year Jessica Neiman, who tallied 298 kills to lead the team in 2024. Outside hitter Delaney Concannon (190 kills) and middle blocker Rylee Brown (147 kills, 93 blocks) also return.
The Clarion Golden Eagles were voted the No. 3 team in the West poll. The Golden Eagles will have to replace one of the best players in PSAC history after the graduation of Cassidy Snider, but Finley Kearney (140 kills, 81 blocks) and Emily Klopp (175 kills, 69 blocks) are back to shore up the middle of the court.
The No. 4 team in the West's preseason poll, Seton Hill, compiled a 19-9 overall record (8-6 PSAC) last season and garnered a single first-place vote. The Griffins should return All-PSAC West First Team selection Catie Flohr (302 kills in 2024).
No. 5 Pitt-Johnstown, No. 6 Edinboro, No. 7 Slippery Rock, and No. 8 California round out the rest of the 2025 West poll.
The 2025 PSAC women's volleyball season kicks off in full on Friday, September 5.
2025 PSAC Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll (# of first-place votes in parentheses)
Eastern Division
1. Shepherd (4)
2. East Stroudsburg (2)
3. Shippensburg (2)
4. Bloomsburg
5. Millersville
6. West Chester
7. Lock Haven
8. Kutztown
Western Division
1. Gannon (4)
2. IUP (3)
3. Clarion
4. Seton Hill (1)
5. Pitt-Johnstown
6. Edinboro
7. Slippery Rock
8. California