BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The American women’s volleyball team earned the top spot in the 2026 Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Preseason Poll. Eagles’ junior Deniz Dakak was tabbed as the Preseason Player and Setter of the Year, while junior teammate Bella Marrero earned Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors, when the League office announced the awards on Wednesday.

Defending Patriot League champion American totaled 64 points and eight first-place votes, while Colgate finished second with 57 points and one first-place vote. Army West Point totaled 45 points to finish third and Lehigh placed fourth with 39 points. Navy followed closely with 38 points to round out the top five. Bucknell (36), Holy Cross (17), Loyola Maryland (14) and Lafayette (13) completed the nine-team poll.

American junior Deniz Dakak was named the 2026 Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Preseason Player and Setter of the Year after winning the postseason awards a season ago. Dakak led the Patriot League in assists (1,028) and assists per set (10.38) while ranking seventh in aces (33) and eighth in aces per set (0.33).

Eagles’ junior Bella Marrero was tabbed as the 2026 Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Preseason Defensive Players of the Year after earning Libero of the Year honors last year. Marrero ranked second in the Patriot League with 404 digs and second with 4.34 digs per set.

American placed a League-high five student-athletes on the preseason All-League squad, while Colgate and Lehigh each featured a pair of players. Army West Point and Bucknell had one student-athlete apiece on the 11-member preseason team.

Voting for the Preseason All-Patriot League Women’s Volleyball Team, major awards and the preseason poll was completed by Patriot League women’s volleyball head coaches from the nine League schools. They cannot vote for their team or student-athletes.

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