The Shippensburg University volleyball team was selected first in the 2026 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
Shippensburg received five first-place votes. It marks the second time in the last three years that the Raiders have been selected to finish first in the division preseason poll.
Shepherd was ranked second with two first-place votes, followed by reigning conference champion East Stroudsburg in third. Kutztown, West Chester, Lock Haven, Bloomsburg and Millersville completed the Eastern Division rankings.
Head coach Leanne Piscotty enters her 23rd season at Shippensburg with a career record of 463-271.
The Raiders enter the season with a 19-player roster that includes 13 returning players and six first-year recruits.
Senior libero Shay Kolivoski returns after being named the PSAC Eastern Division Defensive Athlete of the Year in each of the last two seasons. Kolivoski was also an American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II All-America Honorable Mention selection in 2025.
Shippensburg will open the 2026 season Thursday, Aug. 27, against Clarion at the Tony Banner Memorial Tournament. The match is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Each PSAC Eastern Division team will also play Lackawanna twice this season as part of its league schedule. Lackawanna was invited to join the PSAC last year, contingent on successfully completing the process of becoming an NCAA Division II member. Those matches will not count toward teams’ overall NCAA records.
2026 PSAC Eastern Division Preseason Poll
- Shippensburg (5)
- Shepherd (2)
- East Stroudsburg (1)
- Kutztown
- West Chester
- Lock Haven
- Bloomsburg
- Millersville
2026 PSAC Western Division Preseason Poll
- Gannon (7)
- IUP (1)
- Pitt-Johnstown
- Clarion
- California
- Seton Hill
- Edinboro
- Slippery Rock
