LOUDONVILLE, NY – After exceeding the conference Preseason Coaches' Poll expectations by four spots last season, the Siena Volleyball team gained kudos heading into the 2026 campaign.
The 2026 Metro Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll released on Thursday morning revealed that the Saints have been projected to finish in sixth place out of 12 members in the standings after receiving 80 votes, an increase of 43 votes from last season to this year. It is the highest place Siena has been pre-season ranked since 2017.
Siena (14-19 overall in the 2025 season, 9-9 in conference) is coming off a season in which it qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2022 and earned its most wins since the 2015 season.
Defending conference champions Fairfield earned the most first-place nods with 10 and tallied the highest score with 142 votes and were followed by Quinnipiac, who received one first-place vote and recorded 127 votes while Rider was third with 110 votes and one first-place vote.
Last season's top seed Fairfield won last year's championship in three sets on its' home court against the No. 3 seed Rider. The most decorated program in conference history, Fairfield clinched its third straight MAAC Championship title – 15
th overall – and seventh consecutive MAAC Regular Season Championship – 24th overall – in 2025.
Canisius was chosen fourth with 101 votes while Niagara followed with 81 votes and then Siena with 80 votes.
The remainder of the standings were rounded out by Sacred Heart (77), Marist (62), Iona (55), Merrimack (55), Saint Peter's (28) and Manhattan (25).
Siena's roster returns 14 student-athletes including two of the top returning hitters in the Metro in senior right side
Doga Diraz and sophomore right side
Mary Claire Deacy.
Each were selected to the All-Metro Volleyball Team, marking the first time since 2016 since the Saints had multiple selections on the conference's all-preseason team.
Diraz, a native of Ankara, Turkey, ranked third in the conference in kills with 407, third in total points (474) and was an All-MAAC Second Team selection.
Deacy, a native of Chicago, Illinois, ranked fifth in the conference in hitting percentage (.305) and totaled 295 kills to be named to the All-MAAC Rookie Team.
There are six newcomers as well – all transfers—from West Georgia, St. Francis (PA), Queens (NC), Saint Mary's, UAlbany and UNC Asheville to help bolster the roster.
The 53rd season of Siena Volleyball and 48th varsity season begins on Friday, August 28 in the Central Connecticut State Tournament against Rhode Island at 3 p.m.
The Saints open against the Rams for the second consecutive season. The Saints will also face Holy Cross and host CCSU on Saturday, August 29.
The 2026 Metro Volleyball Championship is a six-team, single-elimination championship taking place November 17 - November 23.
The first round will be hosted by the #3 and #4 seeds.
The semifinal rounds and championship final will be hosted by the #1 seed.
The semifinals are scheduled for November 20-22 with the championship final set for either Nov. 22 or 23.
For all information regarding the 2026 Metro Volleyball Championship, please visit
tinyurl.com/brek2p7h
| 2026 Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll |
| 1 |
Fairfield |
142 (10) |
| 2 |
Quinnipiac |
127 (1) |
| 3 |
Rider |
110 (1) |
| 4 |
Canisius |
101 |
| 5 |
Niagara |
81 |
| 6 |
Siena |
80 |
| 7 |
Sacred Heart |
77 |
| 8 |
Marist |
62 |
| 9 |
Iona |
55 |
| 10 |
Merrimack |
48 |
| 11 |
Saint Peter's |
28 |
| 12 |
Manhattan |
25 |
| Preseason Player of the Year |
| Mamie Krubally (Fairfield) |
| Preseason All-Metro Team |
|
| Player |
Year |
Institution |
| Mamie Krubally |
Sr. |
Fairfield |
| Makenna Mason |
Sr. |
Rider |
| Julia Leonardo |
So. |
Iona |
| Miliani Villarreal |
Jr. |
Sacred Heart |
| Doga Diraz |
Sr. |
Siena |
| Sara Dasic |
Sr. |
Marist |
| Emma Bortolotti |
So. |
Fairfield |
| Mary Claire Deacy |
So. |
Siena |
