NEW HAVEN, Conn. (August 12, 2026) – The University of Bridgeport and Holy Family University have been selected for first place in the North and South Division, respectively, in the 2026 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Women’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll. The voting was conducted by the conference’s 11 head coaches and the results were announced today by CACC Commissioner Dan Mara.
Bridgeport (12-18, 9-5 CACC in 2025) and Holy Family (23-10, 11-4) met in the 2025 CACC championship final, with the Purple Knights emerging victorious in five sets. Both teams advanced to the NCAA Division II Championship tournament.
The Purple Knights were slight favorites in the North Division over last year’s regular-season champion, Post University. Bridgeport received seven of 11 first-place votes and 44 total points, while the Eagles, also a 2025 NCAA Tournament qualifier, were given three first-place votes and 42 points. Dominican University New York earned the other first-place vote and was selected for third place with 30 points. Felician University collected 28 points, followed by Caldwell University with 16.
Holy Family claimed eight first-place votes and 58 overall points to lead the South Division. Thomas Jefferson University received the other three top votes. Jefferson was chosen for second place with 44 points, followed by Wilmington University (3rd, 35 points) and Georgian Court University (4th, 34). Rounding out the South Division balloting were Goldey-Beacom College (5th, 31) and Chestnut Hill College (6th, 23).
The regular season begins on Thursday, August 27, with all 11 CACC teams getting underway Aug. 27-30. Conference play is slated to start on Sept. 15. At season’s end, the top four teams in each division will qualify for the CACC Championship tournament. The quarterfinals will be held on Nov. 10 at campus sites. Holy Family will host the semifinals and final on Nov. 14-15 at Campus Center Gymnasium in Philadelphia, Pa. The CACC champion will automatically qualify for the 2026 NCAA Division II East Region Championship.
2026 CACC WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
(First-place votes in parentheses)
North Division
|
1.
|
University of Bridgeport (7)
|
44 pts.
|
|
2.
|
Post University (3)
|
42
|
|
3.
|
Dominican University New York (1)
|
30
|
|
4.
|
Felician University
|
28
|
|
5.
|
Caldwell University
|
16
|
South Division
|
1.
|
Holy Family University (8)
|
58 pts.
|
|
2.
|
Thomas Jefferson University (3)
|
44
|
|
3.
|
Wilmington University
|
35
|
|
4.
|
Georgian Court University
|
34
|
|
5.
|
Goldey-Beacom College
|
31
|
|
6.
|
Chestnut Hill College
|
23
|
Founded in 1961, the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference has been affiliated with NCAA Division II for 21 years. Conference institutions compete for championships in 18 sports – seven for men, 10 for women, and one co-ed. The CACC contains 11 full members in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Membership includes the University of Bridgeport, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Dominican University New York, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Post University, Thomas Jefferson University, and Wilmington University.