LATHAM, N.Y. - The 2026 United East Men’s Volleyball Preseason Poll has been released with nine teams included in the rankings. Find the results below:
| 1. |
Lancaster Bible College (8) |
| 2. |
Wilson College (1) |
| 3. |
Neumann University |
| 4. |
Cairn University |
| 5. |
Saint Elizabeth University |
| 6. |
Immaculata University |
| 7. |
Gallaudet University |
| 8. |
University of Valley Forge |
| 9. |
Pratt Institute |
*(#) denotes first place votes
The winner of the last two United East Championships, Lancaster Bible College finds themselves receiving all but one first place vote in the 2026 preseason poll. It will be a new look for the Chargers as First Team All-Conference members Dawson Forney and Jordan Yoder have departed but they still retain fellow First Teamer Tyler Martin, who amassed nearly 600 assists in 2025. Kevin Bryant also returns in the middle, topping the conference in hitting percentage (.422) and ranking 19th in the country in blocks per set (0.987).
Last year’s runner up, Wilson College, garnered the other first place vote as they look to build upon a historic season a year ago. The Phoenix earned two of the four major awards in 2025 as Jackson Wolfe collected Rookie of the Year honors (and First Team All-Conference) and Aaron Hoke took home Coach of the Year recognition. Jacob McCoy also returns to the lineup after finishing second in hitting percentage in the United East.
Neumann sits at third in the preseason poll, using stout defense from 2025 Defensive Player of the Year, Christian DeMarco, as their backbone. Cairn rounds out the top four with Sam Poirier coming off a monster year in which he was named the conference’s Player of the Year.
New to the conference this season is Immaculata University, who competed as an independent program in 2025.
The United East Championship will see six teams earn a spot in the postseason with the First Round kicking off on April 2. The semifinal will take place on April 8 and the final two teams left will then square off on Saturday April 11 to determine the United East Champion. All games will take place at the higher seed's facility.
Check out the 2026 Men's Volleyball Schedule here: 2026 MEN'S VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
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The United East boasts 14 NCAA Division III full member institutions which include: Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Brandywine, Penn State Harrisburg, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge, and Wilson College. For more information, please visit gounitedeast.com.