GREENVILLE, S.C. – The two-time defending Conference Carolinas Men's Volleyball Championship champions, Belmont Abbey College was picked for a third straight title in the 2026 Conference Carolinas Preseason Poll.
Belmont Abbey earned six first place votes and 48 points to sit atop the poll ahead of 2025 Conference Carolinas runner-up University of Mount Olive. The Trojans received the final two first place votes and 44 points in the poll.
Barton College was picked third with 35 points ahead of North Greenville University in fourth with 31 points. Erskine College was picked fifth with 24 points and King University came in sixth with 20 points. Lees-McRae College and Emmanuel University were picked seventh and eighth with 13 and nine points, respectively.
The poll was voted on by the league's head coaches and coaches, can't vote for their team.
2025 Conference Carolinas
Men's Volleyball Preseason Poll
|
School |
Votes (first place) |
| 1 |
Belmont Abbey |
48 (6) |
| 2 |
Mount Olive |
44 (2) |
| 3 |
Barton |
35 |
| 4 |
North Greenville |
31 |
| 5 |
Erskine |
24 |
| 6 |
King |
20 |
| 7 |
Lees-McRae |
13 |
| 8 |
Emmanuel |
9 |
2025 Conference Carolinas Men's Volleyball
Players to Watch
Barton
- Ryan Geraci, Jr., MB, Mukwonago, Wisconsin (2025 second team All-Conference Carolinas)
- Jose Ruiz, So., L, Miami, Florida (2025 second team All-Conference Carolinas)
- Lawson Hink, So., OH/RS, Brookfield, Wisconsin (2025 third team All-Conference Carolinas)
Belmont Abbey
- Zach Puentes, Jr., OH, Wellington, Florida (2025 first team All-Conference Carolinas, AVCA honorable mention All-America)
- Jibriel Elhaddad, Sr., MB, Jupiter, Florida (2025 first team All-Conference Carolinas)
- Joseph Morris, Jr., S, Bethesda, Maryland (2025 second team All-Conference Carolinas)
Emmanuel
- Aidan Feeney, Sr., OH, Port Richey, Florida
- Greg Bodus, Jr., MB, Delafield, Wisconsin
- Josh Staehler, So., L, Shelbyville, Indiana
Erskine
- Allen Faison, Sr., OPP, Orlando, Florida
- Tyler Kuehl, Jr., MB, Moore, South Carolina
- Gino Briglio, Sr., S, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
King
- Colton Bueter, Sr., OH, North Lauderdale, Florida
- Alesandro Fermani, So., OH, Civitanova Marche, Italy
- Javier Saldivar, Sr., L, Arlington, Texas
Lees-McRae
- Austin Beaird, Sr., OH, Erie, Illinois (2025 third team All-Conference Carolinas)
- Davide Nicolini, Fr., OH, Castelnuovo Rangone, Italy
- Abdirahman Ahmed, Sr., S/OPP, Ankara, Turkey
Mount Olive
- Jackson Lahey, Sr., S, Pembroke Pines, Florida (AVCA honorable mention All-America, 2025 Conference Carolinas Offensive Player of the Year, 2025 first team All-Conference Carolinas)
- Luca Colombo, So., L, Milan, Italy (2025 Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Year, Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year, first team All-Conference Carolinas)
- Kory Grant, Sr., OPP, Pembroke Pines, Florida (2025 first team All-Conference Carolinas)
North Greenville
- Thomas Roper, So., OH, Acworth, Georgia
- Jake Koch, So., MB, Powell, Ohio
- Scottee McDaniel, Fr., L, Nashville, Tennessee