PURCHASE, N.Y. - Fresh off a fourth-consecutive Skyline Conference Championship in 2025, the Manhattanville University women's volleyball team enters the 2026 season ranked No. 1 by the Skyline preseason coaches' poll, thirsty for a fifth-straight championship win. The Valiants enter the 2026 season with championship expectations and a talented returning core led by a new head coach ready to carry the program forward.
Vianca Vital takes over the program as head coach after making a full circle return to Manhattanville. Vital played for the Valiants from 2019 to 2023 and served as assistant coach for the men's volleyball team the last two years, giving her a unique connection to the program and firsthand experience with the culture on the court.
The Valiants are coming off another dominant campaign in 2025, capturing their fourth straight Skyline Championship with a 3-0 victory over Saint Joseph's Long Island. Manhattanville advanced to the NCAA Tournament, where its season came to an end in the first round with a 3-0 loss to Trinity. Despite the postseason setback, the Valiants have established themselves as the team to beat within the Skyline Conference, not having lost a match to a conference opponent since October 5, 2022.
Leading the defensive effort is 2025 All-Skyline Second Team selection Kayla Jennings (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Lakeland) one of the conference's premier liberos. Jennings recorded an impressive 507 digs last season while adding 87 assists and 56 service aces. Her ability to control the back row and create opportunities for the offense will once again be a major asset for the Valiants.
Caylin Caballero (Eastvale, Calif./Walnut) also returns, following a breakout freshman campaign that earned her Skyline Rookie of the year honors and a spot on All-Skyline First Team. Caballero recorded 274 kills, 173 digs, and 25 blocks in 2025, establishing herself as one of the conference's most valuable players. With another season of experience under her belt, she will look to take another step forward and remain a force at the net.
Also returning is the setter tandem of Samantha Andriola (Garden City South, N.Y./Sacred Heart Academy) and Alana Rivera Torres (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Colegio Marista de Guaynabo). The duo combined for 887 assists last season, providing Manhattanville with a reliable one-two punch in orchestrating the offense.
The Valiants gathered nine first-place votes in the preseason, followed by Merchant Marine Academy with three votes, sitting right below Manhattanville in second place in the polls.
Manhattanville women's volleyball will kick off their season in a road face-off against Montclair State University on September 1st at 7:00PM.
See the full preseason poll results below:
1. Manhattanville, 116 – 9 first-place votes
2. Merchant Marine, 107 – 3 first-place votes
3. Farmingdale State, 102
4. St. Joseph's-LI, 97
5. Sarah Lawrence, 79
6. Mount Saint Mary, 69
7. St. Joseph's-BK, 58
8. Mount St Vincent, 54
9. Maritime, 47
10. Old Westbury, 30
11. Purchase, 23
12. Yeshiva, 10
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