PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Defending Little East Conference (LEC) champion Plymouth State has been selected as the preseason favorite in the 2026 LEC Women’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll, earning 63 points and seven first-place votes.
With defending LEC champion Plymouth State leading the preseason poll and 2025 regular season champion UMass Dartmouth just six points behind, the 2026 LEC women’s volleyball season is set to feature another competitive race for the conference title.
2026 LEC Women’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Institution – Points (First-Place Votes)
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Plymouth State – 63 (7)
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UMass Dartmouth – 57 (2)
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UMass Boston – 46
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Western Connecticut – 43
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Eastern Connecticut – 38
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Keene State – 32
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Rhode Island College – 21
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Southern Maine – 15
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Vermont State Castleton – 9
NOTE: Head coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team.
Defending Champion Plymouth State Tabbed as Team to Beat
Plymouth State enters the 2026 season as the LEC preseason favorite after finishing 23-8 overall and 6-2 in conference play before capturing the 2025 LEC Championship, the program's first conference tournament title since 2004. The third-seeded Panthers defeated Keene State, 3-1, in the opening round and swept UMass Boston in the semifinals before upsetting top-seeded and two-time defending champion UMass Dartmouth, 3-1, in the championship match. The Panthers advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship, where their season came to an end against nationally ranked Ithaca in the opening round.
Plymouth State returns 2025 LEC Rookie of the Year Sya McKay, who led the conference with 103 total blocks while ranking second with 0.92 blocks per set and third with a .292 hitting percentage. McKay also recorded 280 kills during her first collegiate season. Danielle Emerson returns after ranking fourth in the LEC in service aces, while Sydney Riley ranked third in blocks and eighth in hitting percentage. Annalyn Cahill added 239 kills last season, and Cami Wessels returns after missing last season due to injury. The Panthers also add several newcomers, including UMass Amherst transfer Brooke Wyatt and former Eastern Connecticut middle hitter Addison Soleau.
UMass Dartmouth Close Behind
UMass Dartmouth was selected second with 57 points and two first-place votes after finishing 22-8 overall and a conference-best 7-1 in LEC play to capture the 2025 regular season championship. The top-seeded Corsairs swept Western Connecticut in the tournament semifinals to advance to their third consecutive LEC championship match before falling to Plymouth State.
UMass Dartmouth returns several of its top offensive contributors, including Olivia Seutter, who led the team in kills, and Allison Pate, who ranked second on the team in kills while playing as a six-rotation outside hitter. Setter Skye Peters also returns after leading the Corsairs in assists. The Corsairs will look to replace four-time LEC Defensive Player of the Year Emily Pogorelec but bring back an experienced core while adding a rookie class that includes Giselle Mirazo, Norah Schweitzer, Caitlin Keating and Brooke Harrington.
UMass Boston Selected Third
UMass Boston earned 46 points to place third after finishing 15-13 overall and 6-2 in conference play last season. The second-seeded Beacons advanced directly to the LEC Tournament semifinals before falling to eventual champion Plymouth State in three tightly contested sets.
The Beacons were named the 2025 LEC Coaching Staff of the Year after finishing second in the conference standings while competing against a challenging non-conference schedule. UMass Boston returns a core led by outside hitters Paige Coulson and Mya Perron, setter Audrey Cofield and middle blocker Addie Blomgren. The Beacons will feature a younger roster in 2026 after losing several players from last season's team and will look to newcomers Ashlee Wudi and Kaitlyn Leberstien to help fill key roles.
Western Connecticut Returns LEC Offensive Player of the Year
Western Connecticut was selected fourth with 43 points after posting a 20-7 overall record and 5-3 mark in conference play last season. The fifth-seeded Wolves defeated Eastern Connecticut, 3-1, in the opening round of the LEC Tournament before falling to top-seeded UMass Dartmouth in the semifinals.
WestConn returns 2025 LEC Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-LEC selection Julia Stoliker, who led the conference with 424 points, 4.46 points per set and 3.78 kills per set while ranking second with 359 total kills. The Wolves also return Hallie Robillard, Ali Rondeau, Arrianna Lapointe and Sophia Sirichuk while adding Taylor Thompson, Kyra Courtamache, Kayla Proscia and Natalyse Cuza. WestConn will look to replace 2025 LEC Setter of the Year Maggie Ferguson, along with several other key contributors from last season.
Eastern Connecticut Selected Fifth
Eastern Connecticut earned 38 points to place fifth after finishing 17-8 overall and 5-3 in LEC play in 2025. The fourth-seeded Warriors hosted Western Connecticut in the opening round of the LEC Tournament, where their season came to an end with a 3-1 loss.
The Warriors return All-LEC outside hitter Emma Robinson, who averaged nearly three points per set last season. Sierra York also returns after a breakout season in which she averaged nearly two kills per set, while Haley Bridges provides experience in the middle and Emerson Conigliaro returns in the libero role. Eastern Connecticut adds a talented group of newcomers that includes setter Lauren Lacy and pin hitter Finnley Wilson. Wilson arrives after earning All-State honors and being named an All-Area Player of the Year and state tournament MVP during her high school career.
Keene State Rounds Out Projected Tournament Field
Keene State was selected sixth with 32 points after finishing 14-14 overall and 3-5 in LEC play last season. The sixth-seeded Owls qualified for the LEC Tournament before falling to eventual champion Plymouth State, 3-1, in the opening round.
The Owls return veteran setter Alexis Small, a former Second Team All-LEC selection who enters the season with 1,971 career assists and 169 service aces. Small recorded 77 aces last season and enters 2026 closing in on the 2,000-assist milestone. Colleen Fraser also returns after a breakout junior season in which she recorded 203 kills, averaged 2.5 points per set and totaled 35 blocks. Keene State welcomes 10 new players to its roster, including eight first-years and two transfers, as the Owls look to build on their recent progress.
Rhode Island College, Southern Maine and Castleton Complete Poll
Rhode Island College was selected seventh with 21 points after finishing 13-13 overall and 2-6 in conference play last season. The Anchorwomen return several experienced seniors, led by Andrayah Williams, who led the LEC with a .327 hitting percentage and ranked fourth in the conference in blocks. Sarina Marines led RIC in kills and ranked sixth in the LEC, while Carolyn Bailey led the team in digs and also ranked sixth in the conference.
Southern Maine earned 15 points to place eighth after going 8-23 overall and 1-7 in LEC play last season. The Huskies return 15 players, including all of their starters, as they look to continue developing a young core. Anyelis Hernandez, Kylee Eubanks-Hemme, Taylor Joyal, Haylie Bidegain, Mariah Eaton and Reese Helisek are among the experienced players returning to the lineup.
Vermont State Castleton rounds out the poll in ninth with nine points after finishing 13-14 overall and 1-7 in conference play. The Spartans return Alondra Rojas, who averaged 6.89 assists per set while leading the LEC with 0.94 service aces per set, a mark that ranked third in NCAA Division III. Jocelyn Ray returns after leading Castleton with 204 kills, while Nicolette Vaughn ranked tied for third in the conference with 4.55 digs per set.