WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University men's volleyball team have been selected eighth in the 2026 Continental Volleyball Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the conference Tuesday morning.

The Colonels prepare for their second season in the conference after an 8-21 overall record in 2025. Joseph Czopek leads the team in his tenth year as head coach of the program.

Reigning national champions Southern Virginia University was selected to repeat as conference champs with 46 points and five first-place votes, followed by Juniata College with 43 points and two first-place votes. Rutgers-Newark rounded out the top three with 38 points and one first-place vote.

Marymount University (31 points), Elizabethtown College (23 points), Kean University (20 points), and Drew University (17 points) were ranked fourth through seventh respectively, with Wilkes in eighth with six points.

Wilkes kicks off the 2026 season on Sunday, January 18^th in a home tri-match against Eastern University and Nazareth University beginning at 11:00 a.m. Conference play begins against Kean as a part of a tri-match on Saturday, February 14^th also including Hartwick College beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the Marts Center.

2026 CVC Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Southern Virginia – 46 points (5)
2. Juniata – 43 points (2)
3. Rutgers-Newark - 38 points (1)
4. Marymount – 31 points
5. Elizabethtown – 23 points
6. Kean – 20 points
7. Drew – 17 points
8. Wilkes – 6 points