NEW YORK – For the third consecutive season, No. 13 Creighton was unanimously favored to lead the BIG EAST, as announced by the league Thursday with the release of the 2026 Preseason Coaches’ Poll and All-Conference awards. Villanova’s Abby Harrell was recognized as the Preseason Player of the Year, becoming the first player in program history to earn the honor and headlining a 13-athlete team. The Wildcats finished second in the BIG EAST poll.
Creighton posted a 28-6 record last season while facing some of the top teams in the nation and enjoyed an unblemished 16-0 mark in conference play. The Bluejays earned their 12th consecutive BIG EAST regular season title before sweeping Marquette and Xavier to claim the conference’s tournament crown for the sixth consecutive season. The Bluejays earned their 14th straight bid to the NCAA tournament where they defeated Northern Colorado (3-2) and Northern Iowa (3-1) at home. Moving into the second weekend of NCAA play, the ’Jays surpassed No. 8 Arizona State (3-1) before falling to No. 2 Kentucky (0-3) in the Regional Final.
This year’s Bluejays feature three Preseason All-BIG EAST selections. Senior Jaya Johnson is a unanimous selection after earning All-BIG EAST accolades at the conclusion of last year. Johnson is joined by 2025 All-BIG EAST Freshman selection Abbey Hayes. Ayden Ames rounds out the trio, joining the ’Jays by way of the University of Texas where she was the AVCA Southwest Region Freshman of the Year (2024) and a member of the Southwest All-Region team (2025). Prior to joining the collegiate ranks, Ames was named the 2023-24 Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year.
Led by Harrell, Villanova earns its program-best preseason poll finish. Last season, the Wildcats posted their best regular season win percentage in 15 years (.767), notching 20 wins to advance to the BIG EAST tournament as the three seed. Villanova returns an experienced squad that includes all three of their 2025 All-BIG EAST selections, including unanimous honorees Harrell and Campbell McKinnon, and All-BIG EAST Freshman Team member Reagan McGivern. In the 2026 AVCA Preseason Poll, the Wildcats received votes.
An outside hitter, Harrell is the BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year after three consecutive All-BIG EAST regular season honors, an AVCA All-East Coast Region selection (2025), and both BIG EAST and ECAC Freshman of the Year recognition (2023). Last season, the Washington native ranked fourth in both conference kills (3.84) and points (4.40) per set, the most of any returning player. In addition to her offensive prowess, Harrell led the Wildcats in digs (2.97/set) while registering 0.48 blocks/set.
Harrell is joined by McKinnon on the All-Preseason squad. A unanimous selection, McKinnon was an honorable mention AVCA All-East Coast Region honoree and a unanimous All-BIG EAST pick in 2025.
Marquette finished third in the poll after a season in which the Golden Eagles advance to their 14th NCAA tournament in the last 15 seasons. There, they defeated Western Kentucky (3-0) before falling to No. 9 Louisville (3-2). The Golden Eagles received votes in the 2026 AVCA Preseason Poll. Marquette is represented on the preseason squad by Carson Tyler, a transfer from Ball State who was named the 2025 MAC Player of the Year, an AVCA Midwest Region First Team honoree, and an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American.
Xavier ranks fourth following a historic 2025 campaign in which the Musketeers logged their best winning percentage in program history (26-5, .839) and advanced to the BIG EAST Championship final for the second time (first since 2016). The squad, led by the 2025 BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year, earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, marking their first appearance since 2007.
Three Musketeers were selected to the All-Preseason team including unanimous selection Macy Hatkevich. The lone setter on the preseason squad, Hatkevich was a 2025 All-Conference selection. She is joined by teammates McKinley Boehm and Margo Kemp. Boehm was an All-BIG EAST Freshman selection last season while Kemp was the 2024 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and a 2025 Preseason All-BIG EAST honoree.
DePaul was voted fifth, followed by Georgetown in sixth, UConn in seventh, St. John’s in eighth, and Butler in ninth. Providence and Seton Hall round out the poll in 10th and 11th, respectively.
DePaul is represented on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team by 2025 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year Kendall Timme. Timme led the Blue Demons in kills (3.29/set) and points (4.01/set) last season.
For Georgetown, Kamryn Lee-Caracci notched an All-Preseason nod. In 2025, she paced the Hoyas with 18 solo blocks and a .401 hitting percentage.
Rashanny Solano Smith of St. John's was the lone libero to earn recognition. The senior was the 2025 BIG EAST Libero of the Year and an All-Conference selection after leading the Red Storm with 4.52 digs/set.
Butler's Elise Ward also earned a spot on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team. In 2025, she led the Bulldogs in aces (0.39/set) and hitting percentage (.248) while ranking second in kills (3.07/set).