NEW HAVEN, Conn. (August 12, 2026) - The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) released their final fall sport preseason coaches poll Wednesday afternoon with the unveiling of the women's volleyball rankings. Georgian Court found themselves up one place from where they finished the 2025 season, sitting fourth in the CACC South Division.

Volleyball is now the only sport in the CACC to still utilize a North and South Division. The Lions play in the South along with Chestnut Hill, Goldey-Beacom, Holy Family, Jefferson and Wilmington. Bridgeport, Caldwell, Dominican, Felician and Post all are a part of the North Division with the top-four teams in each division making the CACC Tournament. GCU missed out on the CACC Tournament last year going 8-19 overall and 5-10 in the CACC to finish fifth in the South. That came on the heels of a 2024 season that saw them win the regular season and tournament championships and appear in the NCAA Tournament.

With 34 points, Georgian Court was actually one point away from finishing third in the preseason poll. Holy Family was picked to win the South with 58 points and eight of 11 first-place votes. Jefferson received the other three first-place and sits second with 44 points. Wilmington is one point ahead of the Lions in third with 35 points while Goldey-Beacom, 31 points and Chestnut Hill, 23 points, make up the rest of the South. 

Things were much tighter in the North Division where Bridgeport, despite receiving four more first-place votes, was just two points ahead of Post with 44 points to the Eagles 42. Dominican also snagged a first-place vote and sits third with 30 points. Felician with 28 points and Caldwell at 16 complete the poll for the North. 

The Lions might need to wear name tags during practice for the preseason as they meet their new teammates. That's because of the 17 on the roster, 10 were not here a year ago. One of the seven returners for the Lions includes All-CACC selection Ava Churnesky. The outside hitter finished her first season in Lakewood with 239 kills and 158 digs and became the first Lion freshman since 2005 to make the All-CACC team. Churnesky and junior Kyla Davis finished second and third on the team in total points. Davis returns having landed 135 kills and a team-high 72 blocks during a breakout 2025 campaign. 

Georgian Court's defense will once again be led by senior Carmen Rivera. Rivera was third in the CACC last season averaging 4.37 digs per set as the libero. She also scored 28 service aces. 

Long time setter Iciar Zayas graduated following 2025, but back for 2026 is Maggy Hallihan who impressed when called to action late last season to fill in for an injured Zayas. She earned herself more playing time finishing the year with double-digit assists in six of the final eight games and three assist-dig double-doubles. 

The Lions season gets started Friday, August 28 at the Adelphi/Molloy Tournament. They open the season playing two games at Molloy, starting with a Lions vs. Lions battle and also playing Bloomsburg. The next day, they play at Adelphi and will also take on American International. Georgian Court's first home game will come the following week to open September. An afternoon game against St. Thomas Aquinas on the first of the month. 

After five more nonconference games, including a tournament in Rochester, the Lions begin CACC action at Jefferson Tuesday Sept. 15. Similar to years past, the Lions will play each CACC South opponent twice, once at home and once on the road. They'll see the members of the CACC North Division just once. The Lions will need to weather an early CACC schedule that sees them play four of their first five conference games on the road and their lone home game, Wednesday, Sept. 23, is against Holy Family, who was picked to finish first in the South. The good news is that six of the Lions final 10 conference games will come at home, including the regular season finale Saturday, Nov. 7 against Wilmington. 

2026 CACC Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
South Division
1. Holy Family (8 first-place votes) - 58 points
2. Jefferson (3) - 44
3. Wilmington - 35
4. Georgian Court - 34
5. Goldey-Beacom - 31
6. Chestnut Hill - 23

North Division
1. Bridgeport (7 first-place votes) - 44 points
2. Post (3) - 42
3. Dominican (1) - 30
4. Felician - 28
5. Caldwell - 16