CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Fresh off its 2025 CIAA Volleyball Championship, Fayetteville State University has been selected as the preseason favorite to capture the 2026 CIAA Volleyball title, as announced by the conference office. The Broncos, who finished as the CIAA runner-up in 2024 before claiming the conference championship in 2025, enter the new season with the distinction of being the team to beat.

Fayetteville State captured the 2025 CIAA Championship by defeating defending champion Shaw University in the title match, completing a remarkable turnaround after falling short in the championship match the previous season. With a talented core returning and high expectations surrounding the program, the Broncos begin 2026 atop the conference's predicted order of finish.

The Broncos also placed two student-athletes on the 2026 Preseason All-CIAA Volleyball Team in senior setter Giovanna Teixeira and middle hitter Mya Hejl.
 

Teixeira, the reigning CIAA Setter of the Year, orchestrated one of the conference's most efficient offenses in 2025. She totaled 732 assists, averaging 7.55 assists per set, while adding 263 kills, 221 digs, 41 service aces, and 23 total blocks.

Hejl earned Preseason All-CIAA recognition after a standout campaign in which she is expected to be one of the league's most dominant middle hitters. The Bellevue College transfer recorded 254 kills, averaging 2.15 kills per set, while attacking at an impressive .356 hitting percentage. She also contributed 146 total blocks, averaging 1.24 blocks per set, and finished the season with 392.5 points, averaging 3.3 points per set.

Under continued championship expectations, Fayetteville State will look to defend its conference crown and make another deep postseason run in 2026.
 
2026 CIAA Volleyball Predicted Order of Finish

1. Fayetteville State University
2. Shaw University
3. Virginia State University
4. Winston-Salem State University
5. Bluefield State University
6. Bowie State University
7. Livingstone College
8. Virginia Union University
9. Claflin University
10. Elizabeth City State University
11. Johnson C. Smith University
12. Lincoln University (Pa.)

2026 Preseason All-CIAA Volleyball Team
Libero

• Kellee Craig, Virginia State University

Middle Hitters

• Mya Hejl, Fayetteville State University
• Kamiyah Wilson, Winston-Salem State University
• Sydni Hunter, Shaw University

Outside Hitters

• Gracie Darville, Virginia State University
• Aryanna Connell, Claflin University
• Holiday Ellis, Winston-Salem State University

Right Side Hitters

• Da'Maia Bryant, Livingstone College
• Aria Caldwell, Winston-Salem State University

Setters

• Giovanna Teixeira, Fayetteville State University
• Gabby Hale, Bowie State University

Utility

• Grayson Graham, Claflin University