WASHINGTON – Dayton is the unanimous choice to repeat as Atlantic 10 Conference volleyball champion in the 2025 A-10 Under Armour Preseason Poll, which was announced Wednesday ahead of the start of the season on Friday, August 29.
The Flyers posted a perfect 18-0 conference record to win the A-10 regular season in 2024, before falling to Loyola Chicago in the title match. Led by Liana Sarkissian and Taylor Russell, both of whom earned All-Conference nods in previous years, UD earned all 10 first-place votes in the poll and tallied 100 points. Dayton also enters the season ranked 24th in the AVCA Coaches National Preseason Poll. Led by eight-time A-10 Coach of the Year Tim Horsmon, the Flyers were 29-3 overall last year, and ended the season ranked 17th in the country after reaching the Sweet 16 with wins over South Carolina and Baylor.
VCU finished second in the poll with 86 points. The Rams finished second in the regular season last year with a 16-2 record and were 18-9 overall. They return All-Conference First Team Julia Rienks and Lara Del Core, an All-Conference Second Team and All-Rookie selection last year.
Defending champion Loyola Chicago finished third in the preseason poll with 83 points. The Ramblers, the only team other than Dayton to win an A-10 title since 2018 and the only team other than UD to win two titles since 2009 finished 21-2 overall and 13-5 in league play last season. Loyola topped No. 5 BYU, 3-0, in the NCAA first round, earning the program’s first-ever postseason victory. They return Ann Marie Remmes, an All-Conference Second Team selection last year.
Davidson finished fourth in the voting with 64 points. The Wildcats finished fourth with an 11-7 record in league play in 2024 and were 16-15 overall. Davidson is led by 2024 Libero of the Year Jordan Hummel, All-Rookie selections Kinsey Smith and Meile Songalia and also returns 2022 A-10 Rookie of the Year Emma Slusser.
George Washington was voted fifth in the preseason poll, collecting 54 points. The Revolutionaries are coming off a 2024 season where they were 9-9 in the A-10, finishing fifth, and 19-13 overall. They return 2024 All-Rookie selection, Taylor Treahy.
Saint Louis was sixth in the poll with 44 points after finishing tied for sixth last year, with Kayla Jansen, and All-Rookie choice in 2024, back for the Billikens. Duquesne had 40 points in the poll and 2024 award winners Ariel Helm and Emerson Schrom back for the Dukes.
George Mason (38 Points), Rhode Island (21) and Fordham (20) rounded out the final three spots in the poll.
The 2025 campaign begins Friday, Aug. 29 and culminates with the 2025 Atlantic 10 Volleyball Championship at VCU’s Siegel Center, Nov. 21-23.
2025 Atlantic 10 Volleyball Preseason Poll
(number in parenthesis indicates first-place votes)
- Dayton (10) – 100
- VCU - 86
- Loyola Chicago -83
- Davidson - 64
- George Washington – 54
- Saint Louis – 44
- Duquesne – 40
- George Mason – 38
- Rhode Island – 21
- Fordham – 20