LANCASTER, PA – Winners of the last nine Centennial Conference Championships, the Johns Hopkins volleyball program has been selected as the preseason favorite to capture its 10th consecutive title. The Blue Jays received seven of the 10 possible first-place votes in the conference's preseason poll, announced Monday.
Fresh off its sixth consecutive NCAA Sweet 16 appearance, Hopkins enters the 2026 season poised for another strong campaign. The Blue Jays return a talented core while adding six newcomers to the roster.
Leading the way are All-Conference selections
Nicole Tuszynski, an AVCA All-Region and CSC Academic All-District honoree, and
Celine Ebert. Hopkins will also welcome back
Ivy Swafford, a 2024 All-Conference nominee, and
Elysa Pulliam, both of whom are returning from season-ending injuries.
With a strong blend of experienced upperclassmen, newcomers and a graduate transfer, the Blue Jays have added depth and versatility to their roster as they look to make another deep postseason run.
Hopkins topped the preseason poll with 97 points, followed by Franklin & Marshall with 90 points and three first-place votes. Swarthmore rounded out the top three with 77 points and one first-place vote.
The Blue Jays will open the 2026 season with three consecutive home matches before facing an early test on the road against Ithaca and Carnegie Mellon. The two teams finished the 2025 season ranked 19th and 14th, respectively, in the final AVCA poll.
Hopkins will then travel to Texas for the Trinity Fall Classic, where it will face Washington University and host Trinity (TX), which finished the 2025 season ranked 15th and fourth, respectively, in the final AVCA poll. The Blue Jays will return home to take on 2024 NCAA champion Juniata, which finished the 2025 season ranked 17th.
Conference play is set to begin October 3 at Bryn Mawr.
2026 Centennial Conference Preseason Volleyball Coaches Poll
1. Johns Hopkins (7 first-place votes) – 97
2. Franklin & Marshall (3 first-place votes) – 90
3. Swarthmore (1 first-;lace vote) – 77
4. Haverford – 73
5. Gettysburg – 70
6. Dickinson – 57
7. Washington College – 45
8. Muhlenberg – 34
9. Ursinus – 31
10. McDaniel – 21
11. Bryn Mawr – 10
