CHARLOTTE, N.C. (August 17, 2026) - The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®) announces the 2026 Preseason All-CIAA Volleyball Team and Predicted Order of Finish, as voted on by the CIAA Sports Information Directors Association. Defending CIAA champion Fayetteville State University will begin its title defense as the conference's preseason favorite, earning the top spot in the 2026 Predicted Order of Finish. Shaw University was selected second, followed by Virginia State University, Winston-Salem State University, Bluefield State University, and Bowie State University in the top six.
The order at the top remains unchanged from last year's preseason poll, but the road each program took through the 2025 season provides a different backdrop entering 2026. Fayetteville State emerged from a competitive championship field to reclaim the conference crown, defeating Virginia State in the semifinals before sweeping two-time defending champion Shaw in the title match.
Winston-Salem State leads all institutions with three selections to the 2026 Preseason All-CIAA Team, while Fayetteville State, Virginia State and Claflin each placed two student-athletes on the team. Nine of the 12 preseason selections earned All-CIAA honors last season, including seven members of the 2025 First Team.
DEFENDING CHAMPION FAYETTEVILLE STATE LEADS THE WAY
Fayetteville State enters 2026 with the conference championship back in its possession after a postseason run that required the Broncos to go through two of the other top three teams in this year's preseason poll.
The Broncos entered the 2025 championship as the No. 2 seed from the South and defeated Bluefield State, 3-1, in the quarterfinals. They followed by knocking off North No. 1 seed Virginia State, 3-1, in the semifinals before sweeping Shaw, 3-0, in the championship match. The title was Fayetteville State's ninth CIAA volleyball championship and third since 2019.
At the center of the Broncos' returning experience is setter Giovanna Teixeira. The 2025 First Team All-CIAA selection directed the Fayetteville State offense throughout its championship run and was named Tournament Most Valuable Player following the title match. She enters 2026 as one of two Broncos on the preseason team, joined by middle hitter Mya Hejl.
SHAW REMAINS IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP CONVERSATION
Shaw enters the season at No. 2 after advancing to the 2025 CIAA Volleyball Championship match. The Bears entered last year's tournament as the No. 3 seed from the South and swept Virginia Union in the quarterfinals before surviving a five-set semifinal against Bowie State. That victory sent Shaw back to the championship match, where its pursuit of a third consecutive conference title ended against Fayetteville State.
Middle hitter Sydni Hunter gives the Bears a returning preseason selection after earning First Team All-CIAA honors in 2025. Hunter also played a key role in Shaw's postseason run, including a nine-kill performance in the Bears' quarterfinal victory over Virginia Union.
The recent postseason history between the conference's top two preseason teams adds another layer to the 2026 race. Fayetteville State and Shaw have combined to win each of the past five CIAA championships contested, with Fayetteville State claiming titles in 2019, 2021 and 2025 and Shaw winning in 2023 and 2024.
VIRGINIA STATE RETURNS PROVEN EXPERIENCE
Virginia State sits third in the preseason poll after entering last year's championship as the No. 1 seed from the North. The Trojans swept Livingstone in the quarterfinals before their run ended against eventual champion Fayetteville State in the semifinals. Virginia State enters the new season with two preseason selections in libero Kellee Craig and outside hitter Gracie Darville.
Craig earned First Team All-CIAA honors in 2025, while Darville was a Second Team selection. Darville also played a prominent role in Virginia State's postseason run, helping lead the Trojans' attack in their quarterfinal victory over Livingstone. With two returning All-CIAA performers, Virginia State enters 2026 with established talent at both ends of the floor as the Trojans look to build on a season that saw them earn the North's top postseason seed.
WINSTON-SALEM STATE LEADS PRESEASON TEAM WITH THREE SELECTIONS
Few teams enter 2026 with as much individual preseason recognition as Winston-Salem State. The Rams lead the conference with three Preseason All-CIAA selections: middle hitter Kamiyah Wilson, outside hitter Holiday Ellis and right-side hitter Aria Caldwell. Wilson and Ellis both earned First Team All-CIAA honors in 2025.
Winston-Salem State earned the No. 1 seed from the South for the 2025 championship before its season ended with a quarterfinal loss to Bowie State. Despite the early postseason exit, the Rams' returning talent has them positioned fourth in this year's preseason poll and gives Winston-Salem State more preseason selections than any other program.
BOWIE STATE LOOKS TO BUILD ON POSTSEASON RUN
Bowie State enters 2026 at No. 6 after producing one of the notable runs of last year's CIAA Championship. The Bulldogs entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed from the North and swept South No. 1 seed Winston-Salem State in the quarterfinals, earning the program's first CIAA Tournament victory since 2008. Bowie State then pushed Shaw to five sets in the semifinals before its season came to an end.
The Bulldogs add another storyline entering 2026 with the arrival of setter Gabby Hale. Hale earned First Team All-CIAA honors at Bluefield State last season and was selected to the 2026 preseason team following her transfer to Bowie State. Her move adds intrigue within the middle of the preseason poll, with Bluefield State selected fifth and Bowie State immediately behind at sixth.
DEPTH ACROSS THE CONFERENCE
Livingstone moves up one spot from last year's preseason projection to No. 7 after qualifying for the 2025 CIAA Championship, where its season ended against Virginia State in the quarterfinals. Right side hitter Da'Maia Bryant represents the Blue Bears on the preseason team.
Virginia Union follows at No. 8 after also reaching last year's championship field, while Claflin is ninth despite placing two student-athletes on the preseason team.
Claflin's Aryanna Connell returns after earning First Team All-CIAA honors in 2025, while utility player Grayson Graham was a Second Team selection. The Panthers are one of only four programs with multiple preseason selections despite being projected outside the conference's top eight.
Elizabeth City State is projected 10th, followed by Johnson C. Smith at No. 11 and Lincoln (PA) at No. 12.
With nine of the 12 preseason selections carrying All-CIAA recognition from a year ago, the 2026 season opens with proven talent spread throughout the conference and several programs looking to build on postseason appearances from last fall.
2026 PRESEASON ALL-CIAA VOLLEYBALL TEAM
Libero
Kellee Craig, Virginia State University
Middle Hitter
Mya Hejl, Fayetteville State University
Kamiyah Wilson, Winston-Salem State University
Sydni Hunter, Shaw University
Outside Hitter
Gracie Darville, Virginia State University
Aryanna Connell, Claflin University
Holiday Ellis, Winston-Salem State University
Right Side Hitter
Da'Maia Bryant, Livingstone College
Aria Caldwell, Winston-Salem State University
Setter
Giovanna Teixeira, Fayetteville State University
Gabby Hale, Bowie State University (transferred from Bluefield State)
Utility
Grayson Graham, Claflin University
2026 CIAA VOLLEYBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
- Fayetteville State University
- Shaw University
- Virginia State University
- Winston-Salem State University
- Bluefield State University
- Bowie State University
- Livingstone College
- Virginia Union University
- Claflin University
- Elizabeth City State University
- Johnson C. Smith University
- Lincoln University (PA)
Media Contact:
Anna M. Butzlaff
Associate Commissioner, Strategic Communications
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
abutzlaff@theciaa.com
About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first and longest running African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.