Women's Volleyball | 8/26/2026 3:15:00 PM

LORETTO, Pa. – Saint Francis women's volleyball is getting ready to return to the court after a successful season in the NEC.

Last year, Head Coach Sara Spielvogel led her time to a 14-2 conference record and 20-9 overall record. This was the first time since 2008 that women's volleyball had made it to the final round.
 
As Saint Francis continues its transition to Division III, the Red Wolves cannot compete for a championship and its matches against PAC schools will not count in the conference standings.
 
On Wednesday, the PAC unveiled its women's volleyball preseason coaches' poll. After claiming their first title in over 10 years, Grove City College secured the top spot with nine first-place votes.
 
Last year's PAC runner-up Hiram College placed second in the balloting. The Hiram women's volleyball program is coming off its first full year in its return to the PAC. The program made its presence known, advancing to the conference championship game for the first time since 2018. 
 
Spielvogel returns several players from that NEC team. Two of them were named to the league's Players to Watch List.
 
Alexandra Sappia | Sr. | West Palm Beach, Fla.
At one point, Sappia was ranked by the NCAA and recognized as No. 5 in the Nation in assists. She finished the 2025-26 season with 1,238 assists, 210 digs, 63 aces, 36 blocks, and 31 kills. She was named to the CSC Academic All-District Team, First-Team All-NEC, and ECAC First-Team. 

Spielvogel stated, "Sappia is a very strong leader with very heavy playing experience. She will help be the calm and consistency on the court for our very young squad."

Ava Holden | Sr. | Macungie, Pa.
Holden was out last year due to a season ending injury. 
 
Lorah Thomas | So. | Lehighton, Pa.
Thomas is joining Saint Francis for her first collegiate year playing volleyball. In high school she was ranked 5th in Pennsylvania with a .404 hitting percentage.

"Holden and Thomas have been establishing their presence at the net during the preseason. They have been great at challenging our hitters and putting up big blocks", said Spielvogel.

The Red Wolves kicks off the year Sept. 4th when they play at the Mustang Tournament.

 

2026 PAC Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll (Predicted order of finish) School (first-place votes) Points 2025 record (conference) 1. Grove City College (9) 122 20-9 (9-7 PAC) 2. Hiram College (2) 115 26-3 (15-1 PAC) 3. Washington & Jefferson College 96 16-13 (11-5 PAC) 4. Chatham University 91 16-9 (11-5 PAC) 5. Franciscan University (1) 88 12-13 (8-8 PAC) 6. Westminster College (1) 84 20-11 (10-6 PAC) 7. Thiel College 75 18-9 (11-5 PAC) 8. Allegheny College 71 14-13 (8-8 PAC) 9. Saint Vincent College 52 9-15 (7-9 PAC) 10. Bethany College 33 7-18 (4-12 PAC) 11. Geneva College 26 5-24 (2-14 PAC) 12. Waynesburg University 17 2-25 (0-16 PAC) Saint Francis University* --- 20-9 (14-2 NEC)