Center Valley, PA (August 21, 2026) – The DeSales University volleyball team was picked third in the MAC Freedom preseason poll, as released by the conference office on Friday morning and voted on by the nine MAC Freedom coaches.
DSU totaled 51 points, just five behind Misericordia University in second place. Stevens took home the top spot with 63 points and garnered seven first place votes. Rounding out the top five were Lebanon Valley College and Arcadia University.
DeSales is coming off a 2025 season that saw the Bulldogs post a 16-15 overall record and a 4-3 mark in the MAC Freedom. DSU earned the #3 seed in the MAC Freedom postseason tournament, falling to Stevens in the semifinals.
The Bulldogs return nearly everyone from 2025 losing just one regular rotational player. Among the top returnees are juniors Allison Reimer and Kylie Campbell who each earned All-MAC Freedom First-Team honors last season.
Reimer led the team with 305 kills and .195, adding in a team-high 56 service aces and ranking second on the team with 367 digs. Reimer, who also had 46 total blocks, was also named Academic All-MAC and AVCA Honorable-Mention All-Region. Campbell was the catalyst on the defensive side of things totaling a team-best 508 digs and adding 21 service aces.
Among the other notable returnees are senior Jocelyn Castro in the middle. She finished the 2025 season with 110 kills and led the team with 87 total blocks. Junior Brooke Signorella also returns ranking second on the team with 288 kills and 44 total blocks a year ago. DSU returns all four of its setters from last season led by junior Ashlyn Dinan who totaled 530 assists, 224 digs, and had 27 service aces.
Head coach Michele Zabinski enters her 22nd season with a career record of 367-275. She is DeSales all-time leader in wins and the only coach in program history with 300 or more career victories. Zabinski has been named MAC Freedom Coach of the Year five times.
The Bulldogs open the season on the road at local rival Moravian University on September 1st. DSU hosts its home invitational on September 4-5th. The MAC Freedom schedule begins on September 18th at home hosting Arcadia University.
MAC Freedom Pre-Season Poll (first place votes)
- Stevens - 63 points (7)
- Misericordia - 56 points (2)
- DeSales - 51 points
- Lebanon Valley - 44 points
- Arcadia - 35 points
- Marywood - 25 points
- FDU-Florham - 24 points
- King's - 17 points
- Delaware Valley - 9 points
