NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. - Southern Connecticut State volleyball was picked to finish eighth in the 2025 Northeast 10 Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the NE10 on Friday, August 15th. 

In the preseason coaches' poll, Southern received 33 votes and were tied with Assumption in eighth place. The Owls and Greyhounds were ranked ahead of Franklin Pierce, who received 12 votes. Bentley was picked to finish first with a total of 81 votes, which included nine first-place votes, and Adelphi ranked second with a total of 69 votes with one first-place vote. American International followed with a total of 69 votes, then Saint Michael's with 43 votes, both Pace and Saint Anselm followed behind with 38 votes and Southern New Hampshire ranked seventh with 34 votes. 

The Owls are looking to bring in momentum that was built steadily throughout the 2024 season, in which there were 10 freshmen and two transfers that filled out the young team. In 2025, with a majority of returning players and seven new additions, five of them transfers and two freshmen, Southern will rely on experience from the upperclassmen and transfers to make a statement in the Northeast 10 Conference this season. 

Southern Connecticut will be returning majority of their team from last season, such as junior Madi Roar, who led the team in assists and had a career-best of 29 assists against Dominican University. In addition, junior Sarah Stark, who led the team with 50 blocks and was one of the team leaders with 82 kills. Senior Sydney Bennett will be also be returning to the Owls squad, in which she played in all 25 matches and had a career-best of 13 kills against Assumption. 

The Owls will be opening the 2025 season in a Tri-Match in Pelz Gym on Saturday, Sep. 6 at 11:00 am against Saint Thomas Aquinas and against Jefferson at 3:00 p.m.