The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference and Commissioner Dan Mara has released the results of the 2026 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 sixth in the CACC South Division forecasted standings with 23 total points. CACC Runner-up Holy Family University garnered eight of the 11 first place votes to sit atop the division with 58 points.
The University of Bridgeport topped the North Division poll, capturing seven of the 11 first place votes and 44 total points.
Holy Family claimed eight first-place votes and 58 overall points to lead the South Division. Thomas Jefferson University received the other three top votes. Jefferson was chosen for second place with 44 points, followed by Wilmington University (3rd, 35 points) and Georgian Court University (4th, 34). Rounding out the South Division balloting were Goldey-Beacom College (5th, 31) and Chestnut Hill College (6th, 23).
In the north division, the Purple Knights were slight favorites in the North Division over last year's regular-season champion, Post University. Bridgeport received seven of 11 first-place votes and 44 total points, while the Eagles, also a 2025 NCAA Tournament qualifier, were given three first-place votes and 42 points. Dominican University New York earned the other first-place vote and was selected for third place with 30 points. Felician University collected 28 points, followed by Caldwell University with 16.
The Griffins return twelve players from last year's squad that was beset with injuries and finished with a 2-13 conference record.
Sophomore's Kass Kimmel and Micah McKenzie are the Griffins two top offensive threats returning. Kimmel had missed much of last season with an injury and is poised for a rebound year while McKenzie provided steady play as a freshman.
Defensively, Alex Crespin returns for her third season at the libero position while Sarah Allen, who led the team in digs last season returns for her second season of play, along with juniors Katelyn Dougherty and Lilian Bandel. Sofia Rodriguez returns to handle the primary setting duties.
Chestnut Hill's regular season begins on August 28 as the Griffins partake in the Shepherd University Tournament, playing four matches over two days. Conference play opens on September 17 with the Griffins on the road facing Goldey-Beacom College. The team's home opener is on September 8 against Queens College 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. 10 at campus sites. Holy Family will host the semifinals and final on Nov. 14-15 at Campus Center Gymnasium in Philadelphia, Pa. The CACC champion will automatically qualify for the 2026 NCAA Division II East Region Championship.
2026 CACC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
(First-place votes in parentheses)
North Division
|
1.
|
University of Bridgeport (7)
|
44 pts.
|
|
2.
|
Post University (3)
|
42
|
|
3.
|
Dominican University New York (1)
|
30
|
|
4.
|
Felician University
|
28
|
|
5.
|
Caldwell University
|
16
|
South Division
|
1.
|
Holy Family University (8)
|
58 pts.
|
|
2.
|
Thomas Jefferson University (3)
|
44
|
|
3.
|
Wilmington University
|
35
|
|
4.
|
Georgian Court University
|
34
|
|
5.
|
Goldey-Beacom College
|
31
|
|
6.
|
Chestnut Hill College
|
23
|
