WASHINGTON – The Atlantic 10 Conference has announced the results of its preseason poll for the 2026 volleyball season, with Dayton a near-unanimous selection to win the league title after a 2025 season that saw the Flyers go unbeaten in A10 play before getting upset in the semifinal round of the conference tournament.
The Preseason Poll is voted on by the league’s ten head coaches.
Dayton went a perfect 18-0 in regular-season A10 play last year—the third straight season the Flyers have done so—and won 23 matches overall. However, UD was upset by host VCU in the conference tournament and failed to secure an NCAA at-large bid. This season, the revenge tour will be led by senior Kamryn Hunt, last year’s A10 Player of the Year, and a pair of women who were named to the conference’s All-Rookie Team (Corrie Anderson, Abigail Cresse).
Loyola Chicago will host the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament in November, and the Ramblers figure to be right in the mix as they received 91 voting points and the other two first-place votes. Loyola won the 2025 A10 Tournament title before falling at Louisville in the first round of the NCAA Championship. Senior Avary DeBlieck and junior Kaitlyn Burke, a pair of second-team all-conference selections a year ago, will lead the Ramblers.
VCU tied Loyola Chicago and George Washington for second place last year, then advanced to the A10 Tournament final before falling to the Ramblers in five (12-15 in the fifth). Lara Del Core and Sarah Dibbs-Frantz are a pair of all-conference selections from the last few years and will lead the Rams into the 2026 season.
George Mason went 10-8 in league play a year ago and returns a dynamic trio that is led by sophomore Kiera Hamilton, who was last year’s A10 Rookie of the Year as well as a first-team all-conference selection. Senior Chelsea Colter was a second-team All-Atlantic 10 pick last season, while Nia Thompson joined Hamilton on the A10’s All-Rookie Team.
The poll was rounded out by George Washington (59 voting points), Duquesne (54), Davidson (42), Saint Louis (32), Rhode Island (19), and Fordham (17).
The 2026 season starts Friday, with all ten teams in early-season tournament action. Conference play will begin on Friday, Sept. 25 and the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament will take place November 20-22 at the Gentile Center on Loyola Chicago’s campus.
2026 Atlantic 10 Volleyball Preseason Poll
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1. Dayton (8) - 97 points
2. Loyola Chicago (2) - 91
3. VCU - 79
4. George Mason - 60
5. George Washington - 59
6. Duquesne - 54
7. Davidson - 42
8. Saint Louis - 32
9. Rhode Island - 19
10. Fordham - 17