TRAFFORD, Pa. - On Wednesday, the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) released the preseason poll for women's volleyball and players to watch. The Cougars were picked to finish fourth overall in the conference.

The Cougars were picked to finish fourth out of the 12 teams in the PAC after having received a total of 91 points in the poll. They finished the 2025 season with a 16-9 overall record, and 11-5 PAC record. Their season ended last year with a loss in the first round of the PAC Championship Tournament. This season, PAC teams will only play each other once, so the conference is moving away from divisions and the top 8 teams will go to the tournament this season.

Three Cougars made the PAC Players to Watch list this year. They are senior, right-side hitter Becca Gesner, sophomore, setter Delaney Schwind, and sophomore, middle blocker Evie White. Gesner was a 2025 Second Team All-PAC player while Schwind and White were Honorable Mention All-PAC last year as well.

Gesner enters her senior season as a Cougar after finishing last season as the teams offensive leader. She led the team in points (274), points per set (3.08),  kills (233), kils per set (2.62) and total attacks (776). She has previously been named an All-PAC performer one other time in 2024 (Second Team). 

Schwind, entering her secon season with the Cougars, looks to add onto her career stats this season. Las season she lead the team offensively in assists (460), assists per set (5.17), and service attempts (52) while defensively she had 175 digs. 

White, also entering her second season with the Cougars, was a versatile player for the Cougars last season. She fell shortly behind Gesner in points with 219 and 156 kills offensively while defensively she had 66 blocks (16 solo, 50 assist).

The Cougars open their season on Wednesday, September 2nd at 7PM when they travel to Greensburg, PA for a match up with the Pitt-Greensburg Bobcats.