Lasell Looks to Three-Peat; Picked First In 2025 Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll

WINTHROP, Mass. - Lasell University enters the 2025 campaign looking to capture its third consecutive Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Volleyball Championship after being tabbed the preseason favorite. The Lasers collected 190 points, including nine first-place votes, in this year’s poll conducted by the league’s 13 head coaches.

Regis followed close behind with 174 points and three first-place votes to secure the second spot. Emmanuel claimed the third position with 155 points and one first-place vote, while Simmons landed in fourth at 150 points. Saint Joseph’s (Maine) was just a point behind the Sharks in fifth place at 149. Rivier University collected 138 points, including a single first-place nod, to round out the top six.

Colby-Sawyer checked in at seventh with 110 points, followed by New England College (94), Dean College (90), and the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) (58). Mitchell (52), Elms (45), Albertus Magnus (42), and Norwich (23) completed the preseason rankings in that order.

The 2025 GNAC Volleyball season officially begins on Friday, Aug. 29, with non-conference matchups across the region. Conference play is set to begin on Saturday, Sept. 13, with teams competing in a full single round-robin schedule. The top eight programs at the conclusion of the regular season will qualify for the 2025 GNAC Volleyball Championship Tournament. Quarterfinals are slated for Tuesday, Nov. 11, followed by semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 13. The championship match will be held on Saturday, Nov. 15, with the winner claiming the GNAC crown and the league’s automatic berth into the 2025 NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship.

2025 Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll