LANCASTER, PA – Winners of the last eight Centennial Conference Championships, the Johns Hopkins volleyball program has been named the preseason favorite to claim its ninth consecutive title. The Blue Jays earned all but one first-place vote in the preseason poll, which was announced by the league on Thursday.
After making its second-ever appearance in the NCAA Final Four, Hopkins is primed for another strong season with the addition of eight newcomers to the roster.
At the forefront are All-Americans
Simone Adam, the reigning Centennial Conference Player of the Year and a 2024 CSC First Team Academic All-American, and
Helena Swaak alongside
Elysa Pulliam. With a solid mix of returning upperclassmen and key graduate transfers, the Blue Jays are set to bolster their defense and make another deep run toward the postseason.
Hopkins topped the preseason poll with 99 points, followed by Swarthmore in second with 87 points and two first-place votes. Franklin & Marshall rounded out the top three with 83 points. Additionally, conference rivals Franklin & Marshall and Gettysburg have both received votes in the AVCA Preseason Poll.
The Blue Jays will begin their 2025 season with six matches before diving into a challenging stretch that includes back-to-back matchups against No. 18 Ithaca and No. 8 MIT. Hopkins will then head north for the Wid Guisler Invitational, where they'll face top-ranked Juniata and No. 21 Christopher Newport. Conference play is set to begin on October 4 against Bryn Mawr.
2025 Centennial Conference Preseason Volleyball Coaches Poll
1. Johns Hopkins (9 first-place votes) – 99
2. Swarthmore (2 first-place votes) – 87
3. Franklin & Marshall – 83
4. Gettysburg – 77
5. Haverford – 63
6. Ursinus – 51
7. Dickinson – 46
8. Muhlenberg – 40
9. Washington College – 30
10. McDaniel – 19
11. Bryn Mawr – 10
