LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Shippensburg University and Gannon University women's volleyball teams were selected as preseason favorites in the 2026 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Women's Volleyball Preseason Polls,
as voted on by the conference's coaches.
Eastern Division
Shippensburg was voted No. 1 in the 2026 PSAC Eastern Division Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll and tallied five first-place votes. The Raiders finished the 2025 regular season with an overall record of 20-9 (12-2 in PSAC play) and return PSAC East Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference honoree Shay Kolivoski (582 digs, second-most in the conference.) Also back is Second Team All-Conference player Hailey Cappleman, who was second on the team in both kills (276) and blocks (77).
The No. 2 team in the 2026 East poll is Shepherd (two first-place votes), who finished 2025 with an overall record of 19-11 (8-6 PSAC.) The Rams return much of that team, including three All-Conference players: First Teamer Sophia Ryan (who led the PSAC in hitting percentage at .367 on 272 kills in addition to 136 blocks) and Second Team Honorees Amya Davis (286 kills, 38 blocks) and Ada McCoy (a team-high 342 kills.)
Defending PSAC champion East Stroudsburg, voted the No. 3 team, must move on after the graduation of three-time PSAC East Athlete of the Year Anna Coulter. Kelly Crites is the top returning attacker for the warriors, totaling 308 kills last fall.
No. 4 Kutztown (15-13 overall, 7-7 PSAC) return a pair of dangerous attacking players in Paige Skinner (393 kills in 2025, third-most in the PSAC) and 2025 PSAC East Freshman of the Year Madilyn Bogovic (361 kills).
No. 5 West Chester, No. 6 Lock Haven, No. 7 Bloomsburg, and No. 8 Millersville complete the remainder of the 2026 East poll.
Western Division
The Gannon Golden Knights sit atop the 2026 PSAC West Division Preseason Poll for the fourth consecutive season after collecting the maximum possible seven first-place votes. The team finished 2025 with a West-leading record of 13-1 (28-8 overall) and were the Atlantic Region Champions. Returners include a trio of senior All-Conference players from last year’s team, including First Teamers Lauren Atwell (266 kills, team-high 108 blocks) and Sydney Wake (team-high 352 kills) as well as Second Team honoree Nehir Yazicoglu (260 kills, 276 digs.)
The IUP Crimson Hawks are the No. 2 team in the 2026 West Poll. IUP went 9-5 in conference play last season (22-8 overall) and also return three All-Conference honorees in First Teamer Jessica Neiman (team-high 373 kills, .241 hitting percentage) and Second Team players Delaney Concannon (370 kills, 364 digs) and setter Ellie Rauch (1,168 assists, 274 digs.)
Pitt-Johnstown (18-12 overall, 7-7 PSAC) was voted the No. 3 team in this year’s poll. The Mountain Cats welcome back First Team All-Conference player Ellie Zuro Cirino (a PSAC-leading 451 kills in 2025) and Second Team honoree Caroline Knight (354 kills, 251 digs, 42 blocks.)
The No. 4 team in the West's preseason poll, Clarion, compiled a 12-16 overall record (6-8 PSAC) last season but brings back its top two attackers in Raegan Stader (269 kills) and Claire Bickett (251 kills) as well as defensive presence Finley Kearney (team-high 96 blocks last fall.)
No. 5 California, No. 6 Seton Hill, No. 7 Edinboro, and No. 8 Slippery Rock round out the rest of the 2026 West poll.
The
2026 PSAC women's volleyball season begins on Thursday, August 27.
2026 PSAC Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll (# of first-place votes in parentheses)
Eastern Division
1. Shippensburg (5)
2. Shepherd (2)
3. East Stroudsburg (1)
4. Kutztown
5. West Chester
6. Lock Haven
7. Bloomsburg
8. Millersville
Western Division
1. Gannon (7)
2. IUP (1)
3. Pitt-Johnstown
4. Clarion
5. California
6. Seton Hill
7. Edinboro
8. Slippery Rock