Gold Standard: St. Joseph’s (L.I.) Favored to Five-Peat as Skyline Men’s Volleyball Preseason Poll Unveiled

1/10/2026

PATCHOGUE, N.Y. — As the 2026 NCAA Division III men’s volleyball season prepares for its opening serve, the Skyline Conference has officially released its Preseason Coaches Poll, and the message from the league’s bench bosses is clear: the road to the championship still runs through Long Island.

Coming off a historic 2025 campaign where they finished a perfect 18-0 in conference play, St. Joseph’s University (L.I.) has been selected as the preseason favorite to capture its fifth consecutive Skyline title. The Golden Eagles secured 48 points and six of the eight available first-place votes.

The Top Tier: A Two-Horse Race at the Peak?

While the Golden Eagles sit at the top, they are closely pursued by a surging Manhattanville University squad. The Valiants claimed the remaining two first-place votes and 43 total points, signaling that the conference expects a high-stakes battle for the trophy this spring.

St. Joseph’s (L.I.) – The Dynasty Continues

The Golden Eagles return a staggering 18 players from their championship roster. Leading the charge is senior Logan Meyer, who dominated last season with 167 kills and 123 digs. He is joined by middle blocker AJ Esposito (45 blocks) and a versatile supporting cast including Dominic Ruggiero and Cole Violi. After winning a match in the NCAA Tournament last year, this veteran group has its sights set on even deeper post-season success. Their non-conference schedule is stacked with top teams taking on Stevens to kick-off the season next week followed by playing Springfield, Rutgers, MIT, NYU and SUNY New Paltz before conference play begins.

Manhattanville – The Rising Contenders

The Valiants are brimming with confidence after a season that saw Kyle Simmons explode onto the scene as a freshman, leading the team with 304 kills. With senior setter Mason Moon (731 assists in 2025) and defensive standout Evan Rapp returning to the hardwood, Manhattanville has the experience and firepower to challenge the status quo. The Valiants rise up to the top contender to the Golden Eagles especially with the exit of the NJCU Gothic Knights who are now part of the CUNYAC,

The Mid-Pack: Talent and Ambition

Purchase College (3rd) and Sarah Lawrence (4th) round out the top half of the poll. Purchase will look to Jael Martinez and Udel Phillips to maintain their position as a top-tier offensive threat. Meanwhile, Sarah Lawrence brings back a veteran core featuring Derek Hickman and Jozef Kandrac, both of whom provide a formidable presence at the net.

St. Joseph’s Brooklyn (5th) looks to build momentum behind Jeremias Martinez, who earned All-Skyline Second Team honors in 2025, becoming the program’s first all-conference selection in two years.

New Eras and Fresh Faces

The bottom half of the poll features teams hungry for a breakthrough:

• Mount St. Vincent (6th): Under the guidance of new head coach Eddie Daoreuang, the Dolphins are entering a “fresh start” phase with a revamped schedule and focus.
• Old Westbury (7th): The Panthers showed flashes of brilliance last year, nearly taking sets off the top seeds. Sophomores Torrence Fredericks and Liam Eisel will be the central pillars of their 2026 campaign.
• Yeshiva (8th): Led by senior middle blocker Massimo Bertini, the Maccabees bring a high level of veteran experience to the court this season as they look to climb the standings.

Looking Ahead

The 2026 season kicks off in mid-January, with St. Joseph’s (L.I.) opening their campaign on the road against Drew and Stevens on January 16. Manhattanville will follow shortly after, hosting Curry College on January 30.

With a mix of dominant dynasties and rapidly improving challengers, the 2026 Skyline season promises to be one of the most competitive in recent memory.