BRONXVILLE, N.Y. — The Sarah Lawrence College women's volleyball team has been selected fifth in the 2026 Skyline Conference Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the conference ahead of the upcoming season.
The Gryphons received 79 points in the preseason voting, placing Sarah Lawrence among the conference's top five heading into the 2026 campaign.
Reigning Skyline Conference champion Manhattanville University was selected first with 116 points and nine first-place votes after capturing its fourth consecutive conference championship in 2025. United States Merchant Marine Academy followed in second with 107 points and three first-place votes, while Farmingdale State was picked third with 102 points. St. Joseph's-Long Island, last season's championship runner-up, was fourth with 97 points.
Sarah Lawrence enters the season after advancing to the Skyline Conference semifinals in 2025. The Gryphons finished 14-14 overall and 7-4 in conference play before earning a five-set victory over No. 4 Farmingdale State in the opening round of the conference tournament.
The 2026 season marks the beginning of a new era for the Gryphons under first-year head coach
Mauro Miletic. Miletic arrives at Sarah Lawrence after serving as head coach of the Manhattan University Division I program from 2022 through 2026. He was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2023.
Sarah Lawrence returns several key contributors from last season, including junior outside hitter
Nikolet Vataj. A two-time conference selection and the 2024 Skyline Conference Rookie of the Year, Vataj recorded 279 kills and 321.5 points in 2025 while averaging 2.97 kills per set. She also added 38 service aces and 264 digs.
Sophomore setter
Sophia Costa returns to direct the Gryphons' offense after earning Second Team All-Skyline Conference honors as a freshman. Costa recorded 717 assists last season, averaging 8.06 per set, while adding 38 service aces and 212 digs.
At the net, sophomore middle blocker
Olivia Richard returns after leading the Gryphons with 46.0 blocks in 2025, including a team-high nine solo blocks.
The Gryphons will open the 2026 season on Tuesday, September 1, traveling to Vassar College for a 6:00 p.m. first serve in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Sarah Lawrence will host its home opener two days later, welcoming Pratt Institute to the Campbell Sports Center on Thursday, September 3, at 7:00 p.m.
The 2026 Skyline Conference Women's Volleyball Championship is scheduled to begin with first-round matches on November 10.
2026 Skyline Conference Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Rank |
School |
Points |
| 1. |
Manhattanville |
116 (9) |
| 2. |
Merchant Marine |
107 (3) |
| 3. |
Farmingdale State |
102 |
| 4. |
St. Joseph's-Long Island |
97 |
| 5. |
Sarah Lawrence |
79 |
| 6. |
Mount Saint Mary |
69 |
| 7. |
St. Joseph's-Brooklyn |
58 |
| 8. |
Mount Saint Vincent |
54 |
| 9. |
Maritime |
47 |
| 10. |
Old Westbury |
30 |
| 11. |
Purchase |
23 |
| 12. |
Yeshiva |
10 |
