LATHAM, N.Y. - Gallaudet University women's volleyball was picked No. 1 in the 2026 United East preseason coaches poll released on Monday.

Gallaudet posted a 24-6 overall record last season and went 10-0 in conference play. Gallaudet did not participate in the United East tournament as members of the program prepared to compete in the 2025 Summer Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan. GU players on Team USA included Ella Gamble, Citrine Lummer, Brielle Worley, Jada Zarembka, Nicole Hicks (Team Manager) and assistant coach Leila Sicoli, as they finished fifth overall after sweeping Brazil, 3-0, in the fifth-place match.

The Bison garnered eight first-place votes and 133 points to take the top spot in the 2026 poll as GU returns the back-to-back United East Player of the Year, senior Brielle Worley (Amarillo, Texas), who earned the award in 2024 and 2025. Worley led NCAA Division III with 509 kills and recorded a .320 hitting percentage and added 52 service aces last fall. Fellow senior and first team all-conference selection Jada Zarembka (Riverside, Calif.) returns and looks to build off last season's totals of 290 kills, 194 digs, 61 blocks and 34 aces.

"We have a very young and new team this year, with only two seniors, no juniors, and 11 new players," said Gallaudet coach Lynn Ray Boren said, now entering his 21st season at the helm. "What excites me most is the opportunity to see this group grow together, build team chemistry and develop throughout the season. Fans can expect an energetic team that competes hard and continues to improve each time we step on the court."

Penn State Harrisburg, last year's runner-up in the 2025 championship game, picked up the other five first-place votes and is No. 2 in the poll. The Lions are followed by defending champion St. Mary's College of Maryland (third), Lancaster Bible College (fourth) and Cairn University (fifth) round out the Top 5 in this year's preseason poll.

The 2026 United East women's volleyball championship will consist of eight teams in the postseason. The quarterfinals will be held on Nov. 7 with the semifinals on Nov. 11. The final two teams will square off on Saturday, Nov. 14, to determine the conference champion.

"The keys to our success will be building strong team chemistry, developing consistency, and helping our younger players gain confidence and experience," said Boren. "We know we have a lot of work ahead of us, but we are excited about the challenge and look forward to competing for another United East championship."

The season will open at the Elmira College Quad Match in Elmira, N.Y., on Sept. 4-5, with matches against New England (N.H.) College, Geneva (Pa.) College and host Elmira.

2026 United East Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll

1. GALLAUDET (8)
2. Penn St.-Harrisburg (5)
3. St. Mary's (Md.)
4. Lancaster Bible 
5. Cairn
6. Notre Dame (Md.)
7. Penn St.-Abington
8. Penn St.-Brandywine
9. Cedar Crest
10. Penn St.-Berks
11. Wilson
12. Keystone
13. Penn College

( ) = First-place votes

Also see:

• United East release

The preseason poll rankings were conducted by the United East women's volleyball coaches, with each coach ranking out all teams but their own using a staggered points system (12 points for a first-place vote, 11 points for second, etc.). No self-voting was allowed. This is the second year the United East has held preseason polls.