PITMAN, NJ – Kean has been picked as the preseason favorite in the 2026 New Jersey Athletic Conference Women's Volleyball Coaches Poll, collecting seven of the nine first-place votes in balloting by the league's head coaches. The Cougars return as the reigning NJAC champions after a 30-6 season that ended with a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Stockton landed second, while William Paterson picked up the other two first-place votes to round out the top three. Rowan and Montclair State followed at four and five. New Paltz, in its first season in the NJAC, was tagged as this year's dark horse in sixth. Ramapo, Rutgers-Camden and Rutgers-Newark rounded out the poll.
2026 NJAC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL
(first-place votes in parentheses)
- Kean (7)
- Stockton
- William Paterson (2)
- Rowan
- Montclair State
- New Paltz (dark horse)
- Ramapo
- Rutgers-Camden
- Rutgers-Newark
KEAN
Kean enters the season as the defending NJAC Tournament champion off a 30-6 campaign, returning a pair of All-American honorees to lead the way. Cayley Elena Morrison, a 2025 Second Team AVCA All-American, Co-Defensive Player of the Year, and three-time First Team All-NJAC selection, posted 419 kills and a team-best 125 total blocks a year ago. She's joined by Ashley Torok, a 2025 Honorable Mention AVCA All-American and First Team All-NJAC pick who led the Cougars with 456 kills and 525 points. Libero Annabelle Valencia, a First Team All-Academic NJAC honoree, anchored the back row with 309 digs. Kean also adds scoring and defensive depth via NJCU additions Rae Marrero, who ranked fifth in the NJAC in assists a season ago, and Genesis Hibbard, who was among the conference's dig leaders, giving the Cougars a roster with legitimate top-end talent as they defend their title.
Newcomers to Watch: Abby Carpenter (FR; Outside Hitter; Great Falls, MT/CM Russell/North Dakota State), Rae Marrero (Setter; Medford, NY/Patchogue-Medford/NJCU), Genesis Hibbard (Defensive Specialist/Libero; Morristown, NJ/Morristown/NJCU)
Head Coach Don Perkins: "We have a few elite, high end players so the sky is the limit for this group but before we can realize our potential we are going to have to fill some holes from graduation. How well we incorporate the new faces and come together will determine what kind of year we are going to have."
MONTCLAIR STATE
Montclair State returns a proven core off a 26-6 season led by 2025 Second Team All-Conference outside hitter Bryn Bautista, who posted 323 kills and 380 points while also chipping in 337 digs. Setter Lucy Cornelius, a 2025 Honorable Mention selection, ran the offense with 1,025 assists, and middle blockers Breanna Craig (191 kills, 62 total blocks) and Lily Thomas (146 kills, 93 total blocks) give the Red Hawks size up front. With a full slate of key contributors back in the fold, the group is well-positioned for another strong follow-up campaign against a challenging schedule.
Newcomers to Watch: Aleena Whitehead (Libero; San Antonio, TX/Ronald Reagan), Isabelle Hawkinson (Outside Hitter; Ennis, MT/Ennis), Ava Fiedler (Outside Hitter; Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown)
Head Coach Eduardo Stawinski: "The 2026 Red Hawk team returns a strong core from the 2025 season, including key contributors in Lucy Cornelius, Bryn Bautista, Breanna Craig and Lily Thomas, while adding a talented class of recruits. With a challenging NJAC slate and strong non-conference schedule ahead, the team is poised to build on last year's success. The 2026 season starts at home vs. Manhattanville followed by an away tournament in New York."
NEW PALTZ
New Paltz enters its inaugural NJAC season on the heels of a third-place finish in the 10-team SUNYAC, a strong showing that positions the Hawks to be immediately competitive in their new conference home. The group is led by 2025 SUNYAC All-Conference setter Kim Braun, who ran the offense with 629 assists and added 226 digs. Libero Jordyn Lewis (307 digs) and right side Lexi Stragalas (151 kills, 212 points) round out the returning core as the Hawks blend experience with new additions in their first taste of NJAC play.
Newcomers to Watch: Evie Boyle (Outside Hitter; Warwick Valley HS), Gen Carson (Outside Hitter; Charter School of Wilmington)
Head Coach Matt Giufre: "The 2026 New Paltz Women's Volleyball team is a veteran laden team excited to get back to the gym and to compete in the tough New Jersey Athletic Conference. We are balanced offensively and defensively with depth at each position that we will rely on from start to finish."
RAMAPO
Ramapo returns 2025 Second Team All-Conference outside hitter Asya Akar, who paced the Roadrunners with 342 kills and 414.5 points while also contributing 234 digs, off a 17-11 season. Middle blocker Jasmine Rolle (193 kills, 45 total blocks) and outside hitter Valentina Palen (262 kills, 298 points) round out a deep returning attack, giving the Roadrunners one of their most experienced and competitive rosters in recent years.
Newcomers to Watch: Sydney Tramontana (Outside Hitter; Nutley HS), Cassandra Chauhan (Right Side/Middle Blocker; Montville, NJ/Montville/Felician), Claira Parente (Libero/Defensive Specialist; Shirley, NY/William Floyd)
Head Coach Tyler Kwinta: "This is the deepest team we've had since I've been at Ramapo, and that depth will create strong competition in the gym every day. We return a strong core from last season while adding a talented group of newcomers who I believe can make an immediate impact. We're looking forward to getting to work right away and continuing to build on the momentum of this program."
ROWAN
Rowan enters the season under new head coach Casey Burford, returning 2025 NJAC Rookie of the Year and First Team All-Conference outside hitter Jessica Smart, who led the Profs in kills while hitting .290 during a 25-6 campaign. She's joined by Second Team All-Conference right side Abigail Chadwick, a 2025 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention and AVCA All-Region First Team selection who hit .275 with 241 kills, and middle blocker Ciara Bradley, who led the team with 57 total blocks and earned an NJAC Defensive Player of the Week nod. With that returning talent leading the way under new leadership, the Profs are positioned to build on last year's foundation.
Newcomers to Watch: Meredith Brown (Outside Hitter/Rightside; Long Reach HS), Sanai Jones (Setter/Defensive Specialist; North Stafford HS)
Head Coach Casey Burford: "This is a resilient and hungry group that has continued to push forward and grow together through adversity. With a strong returning core and talented newcomers, this team has the competitive mindset to make an impact in the NJAC. We are looking forward to building on last season and continuing to raise the standard for Rowan Volleyball."
RUTGERS-CAMDEN
Rutgers-Camden brings back 2025 all-conference libero Mia Owens, who led the team with 536 digs and a .950 reception percentage, off a season that ended with a three-match winning streak. Setter Joanna Andrews ran the offense with a team-high 425 assists, while sophomore pin hitter Asha Pensa Johnson led the attack with 279 kills and 313.5 points, also contributing 55 total blocks. A two-sport standout, Pensa Johnson also won the outdoor discus title this past spring for Rutgers-Camden track and field. Outside hitter Sofia Granieri (202 kills, 215.5 points) rounds out a senior-laden core for the Scarlet Raptors, who return the vast majority of last season's roster and add fresh talent up front and on the back line.
Newcomers to Watch: Haven Ford (Middle Hitter; Denver, CO/Mullen), Nissi Wadieh (Middle Hitter/Rightside; Bear, DE/Delaware Military Academy), Lora Kunicki (Defensive Specialist/Libero; Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown)
Head Coach David Gurst: "With 10 returners and only 2 graduates, we look to improve over last years record. This year we have a very strong incoming group who will add skill and depth to our experienced returners."
RUTGERS-NEWARK
Rutgers-Newark returns its offensive leader in middle blocker Shayla Moody, who paced the team with 203 kills and 243.5 points while also posting a team-high 38 total blocks. Outside hitters Jaedyn Simba-Malasarte (158 kills, 366 digs) and Cyan Long (119 kills, 362 digs) add scoring punch and back-row stability alongside her. The Scarlet Raiders bring back a large returning group and add a sizable incoming class, giving the program considerable depth to build with heading into the fall.
Newcomers to Watch: Annabelle Fote (Setter; Judge Memorial Catholic HS), Nila Laylo (Libero/Defensive Specialist; Blake HS)
Head Coach Sovanny Kon: "RU-N returns 15 players and adds 10 to the roster, expects lots of depth and experience."
STOCKTON
Stockton returns a two-time NJAC Player of the Year and three-time First Team All-Conference performer in Nicole Palmer, who posted 247 kills, 293.5 points and 137 digs during a 22-9 season a year ago. Middle hitter Jalynn Grant (109 kills, 60 total blocks) and setter Kristen Burton (418 assists) round out the returning core for the Ospreys, whose veteran leadership figures to guide a roster with plenty of young talent ready to contribute.
Newcomers to Watch: Ariana Bongiovanni (Setter; Charlotte, NC/Reddington), Jaclyn Niven (Middle Hitter; Denver, PA/Cocalico), Charlotte Haynes (Outside Hitter/Rightside; Oceanport, NJ/Shore Regional)
Head Coach Allison Walker: "We have a lot of young players who will come in ready to contribute, but we will rely heavily on the leadership, experience, and strength of our upperclassmen. How far we go will come down to how quickly we can build team chemistry and how ready our younger players are to step up and contribute."
WILLIAM PATERSON
William Paterson returns 2025 Co-Defensive Player of the Year Bella Demers, who led the NJAC with 572 digs during a 19-12 season, alongside Second Team All-Conference outside hitter Cecilia Miller (309 kills, 335.5 points) and Riley Elliott (299 kills, 362 points). With most of last year's team back in the fold, the Pioneers enter the season well-positioned to build on last year's success against another tough non-conference slate.
Newcomers to Watch: Sara Rogers (Setter; Mill Creek HS, GA), Presley Weber (Rightside; Emerson HS, TX), Kristen Mendez (Middle Hitter; Valhalla HS, NY)
Head Coach Kevin Rodgers: "We should continue to compete in the top half of the NJAC for the upcoming season. We have a lot of experience with most of our team coming back from last year. A tough out of conference schedule will hopefully get us ready for difficult NJAC competition."