The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference and Commissioner Dan Mara has released the results of the 2025 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll on Wednesday.
In voting done by the league's 11 head coaches, Chestnut Hill College was ranked fifth in the CACC South Division forecasted standings with 31 total points. Jefferson University garnered six of the 11 first place votes to sit atop the division with 51 points.
The University of Bridgeport topped the North Division poll, capturing six of the 11 first place votes and 46 total points.
Following Jefferson in the poll were Georgian Court University, the 2024 CACC Champion, and Goldey-Beacom College receiving two top votes apiece. GCU was chosen for second place with 44 points and GBC third with 39. Holy Family University (4th, 33 points) was granted the final first-place vote. Rounding out the South Division balloting was Chestnut Hill College (5th, 31) and Wilmington (6th, 27).
In the north division, Dominican University New York was given four first-place votes and 40 points for second place behind Brisdgeport while Post University earned the other first-place vote and was selected for third place with 34 points. Felician University collected 25 points, followed by Caldwell University with 15.
The Griffins return just seven players from last year's squad that finished second in the CACC South with a 10-6 record and lost in the CACC quarterfinals in five sets to Dominican. The Griffins lost five players to graduation, including Mia Caporellie (the Griffins' all-time ace and assist leader); Erika Dubosky (1000+ kills and digs) and Angela April (CHC's all time blocks leader).
Head coach Brandon Johnson was busy on the recruiting trail post season, bring in three mid-year transfers, an additional transfer from the Midwest and six true freshmen. The nine new players will give this year's squad depth that they have not had in seasons past.
Juniors Rachel Mace and Maya Hopson are CHC's top two offensive returnees with transfers Sadie Bayko, Nicole Dimiris and Lexi Dimirovic and senior Kate Hanley joining them as hitters and/or blockers up front.
Defensively, Alex Crespin returns for her second season along with Katelyn Dougherty and Lilian Bandel. Setter Caroline Croteau begins her third season with the Griffins with junior transfer Sofia Rodriguez expected to split time at the setter spot as well.
All six freshmen will also provide depth throughout the lineup as the Griffins begin regular season play.
Chestnut Hill's regular season begins on September 5 with a match at Kutztown University. Conference play opens on September 17 asd the Griffins travel to face Jefferson University. The team's home opener is on September 23 against Georgian Court University at 7:00 p.m.
At season's end, the top four teams in each division will qualify for the CACC Championship tournament. The quarterfinals will be held on Nov. 18 at campus sites. Goldey-Beacom will host the semifinals and final on Nov. 22-23 at Joseph West Jones Center in Wilmington, Del. The CACC champion will automatically qualify for the 2025 NCAA Division II East Region Championship.
