NEW YORK – After back-to-back seasons culminating in BIG EAST postseason berths, Villanova volleyball is again projected to finish in the top half of the league as the Wildcats placed fifth in the 2025 BIG EAST preseason poll released on Thursday.
The Wildcats had a pair of players named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team in junior hitter Abby Harrell and sophomore middle Campbell McKinnon, who were each also recognized by the conference at the end of last season.
It's back-to-back years as a preseason honoree for two-time all-league selection Harrell who led the team with 354 kills as a sophomore in addition to eight double-doubles. The 2023 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year added 244 digs and 47 total blocks in 2024, ending the regular season with six straight double-digit kill outings.
McKinnon picked up a preseason honor after impressing opposing coaches in her debut campaign, earning mention to the 2024 All-Freshman Team after averaging 2.29 kills per set on a team-best .332 hitting percentage. The 5-foot-10 Tennessee native led Villanova with 111 blocks on the year, earning three different All-Tournament accolades.
As a unit, the 'Cats received 63 points to finish as the projected fifth place team in the 11-team league, picked just outside of the BIG EAST Tournament field which has reverted back to four entrants.
VU sits behind reigning conference champion and nation's No. 12 Creighton, tournament host Marquette, last year's third-seed UConn and 2024 semifinalist St. John's in the poll while DePaul finished one spot and 10 points behind the Wildcats.
Villanova begins their season in South Bend, Indiana, next Saturday afternoon, taking on Santa Clara at 3:00 p.m. to kick off this year's Catholic Challenge. BIG EAST play gets underway for Villanova in Queens on Sept. 26, taking on the St. John's Red Storm.
BIG EAST Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
(first-place votes)
- Creighton (10) 100
- Marquette (1) 85
- UConn 80
- St. John's 79
- Villanova 63
- DePaul 53
- Xavier 47
- Seton Hall 31
- Butler 29
- Georgetown 27
- Providence 11
Preseason BIG EAST Volleyball Player of the Year: Ava Martin, Sr., OH, Creighton
Preseason All-BIG EAST Team^
McKenna Brand, So., L/DS, UConn
Doga Kutlu, Gr., S, UConn
Emma Werkmeister, Sr., OH, UConn
Jaya Johnson, So., RS/MB, Creighton
Ava Martin, Sr., OH, Creighton*
Kiara Reinhardt, Sr., MB, Creighton*
Hattie Bray, Sr., MB, Marquette*
Natalie Ring, Jr., OH, Marquette
Erin Jones, Sr., S/RS, St. John's*
Lucrezia Lodi, Sr., OH, St. John's
Rashanny Solano Smith, Jr., L/DS, St. John's
Abby Harrell, Jr., OH, Villanova
Campbell McKinnon, So., MB, Villanova
Margo Kemp, R-So., MB, Xavier
^Denotes tie in voting
*Denotes unanimous selection
