2026 NEVC Season Preview

Jan 21, 2026

LEOMINSTER, Mass. – The New England Volleyball Conference commences its final season of operation in 2026 before its transition under the umbrella of the Conference of New England. Looking to defend their NEVC Championship is the Nichols College Bison, while Endicott College looks to knock off the Bison and make its way into the NCAA Championships.

Here’s a look at each NEVC program for 2026:

Bard Men's Volleyball

2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster (returners: 9 | graduated: 1 | newcomers: 6)

2025 Results (12-17, 2-4 NEVC) | 2025 Overall Stats | 2025 Postseason Finish: NEVC Quarterfinals

The Bard College men's volleyball team has an upward trajectory, with just one senior graduating and a talented young roster. Three players — all current sophomores — won individual awards at the end of the season. Ansel Waisler was chosen as the 2025 Rookie of the Year and was named to the All-NEVC First Team, Sidney Stein was named to the All-NEVC Second Team, and Pearse Esposito was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team. It's the first time in program history that the Raptors have combined a Rookie of the Year award with two all-conference selections.

The Raptors will look to those returners often. Waisler led the conference in kills per set and total kills. He averaged 3.90 kills per set, including double-digit kills in 21 of 26 matches this season, and ranked 23rd nationally. Stein had a stellar rookie season, playing in 26 matches. He ranked third in the conference in kills per set, with 3.29, recording 322 total kills. After recording just one match with double-digit kills in his first six matches, Stein went on a five-match streak with 10+ kills, recording double-digit kills in 17 of the final 20 matches that he played in the year. Esposito was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team and was one of two first-years recognized last season. He became the main setter for Bard last season and stepped up in conference play. Overall, he averaged 5.16 assists per set, but against NEVC opponents, that increased to 6.39 assists per set, which was 6th in the conference.

Curry Men's Volleyball

2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster (returners: 11 | graduated: 0 | newcomers: 7)

2025 Results (5-18) | 2025 Overall Stats | 2025 Postseason Finish: N/A

Entering their second year in program history, the Curry Men's Volleyball team joins the NEVC with postseason aspirations. Coach Alex Adelman made it a point to bring in new talent, and has five freshmen coming from the state of Florida in Nyko Whitaker, Braden Alpert, Jayden Garcia, Nicholas Watson, and Brock Beggs, all of whom have already played meaningful points and made an impact in the team's three early-season matches.

While leaning on the freshmen, the Colonels will also look at some of their returners, as both Michael Swanigan and Christopher Milfort return as their lead attacking players. Both players have recorded 10+ kills in each of the team's three matches so far this season.

Endicott Men's Volleyball

2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster (returners: 17 | graduated: 2 | newcomers: 6)

2025 Results (14-12 overall, 4-2 NEVC) | 2025 Overall Stats | 2025 Postseason Finish: NEVC Tournament Finalist

The Gulls return New England Volleyball Conference (NEVC) All-Conference selections Aidan Iacovelli (South Windsor, Conn.) and Jackson Gray (Glenmont, N.Y.). Endicott's schedule features three AVCA preseason nationally ranked teams: No. 11 Wentworth, No. 12 New Paltz, and No. 19 MIT. Lasell, Nazareth, and Nichols are all receiving votes in the preseason poll. The Gulls will look to capture their ninth conference championship in program history and first since 2022. This season's squad will feature six freshmen, six sophomores, five juniors, and six seniors.

Nichols Men's Volleyball

2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster (returners: Cade Bernardi (L/DS), Evan Sachs (S), Braden Pomainville (MH/RS), Bryce Bonville (OH) | graduated: Jack Normandin, Tanner Soracco, Dylan Knapp, Chandler Olson, Conor McCabe | Newcomers: Matt Hand (S), Werner Lynes (RS), Parker Baldwin (MH), Emmett Jackson (MH), Sean Stamp (OH) | 2025 Results (21-15, 6-0 NEVC) | 2025 Overall Stats | 2025 Postseason Finish: 2025 NEVC Champion

Jack Normandin takes the reins as interim head coach after leading the Bison through one of their best seasons in program history, where they followed their third consecutive NEVC Championship title with the program's first NCAA Tournament win.

Finishing the season ranked No. 17, the Bison closed the 2025 campaign with an overall 21-15 record, including a perfect 6-0 mark in conference play. Their postseason run featured a matchup with No. 4 SUNY Polytechnic Institute in the NEVC Semifinal, where Nichols earned a dominant 3-0 sweep. The Bison then faced No. 3 Endicott College in the championship match, securing their third consecutive NEVC title inside the Nichols Athletic Center with a 3-1 victory.

While several key players from last year's championship run have moved on, new heroes are ready to step up as the Bison bring in five talented freshmen ready to make their mark with the Bison.

The Bison return 11 players this season, meaning several athletes will be called upon to step into key leadership roles, roles that many of them are capable of filling. That group includes star libero Cade Bernardi, the 2024 NEVC Defensive Player of the Year and an AVCA All-Region I Libero (2024) selection, as well as lone senior KG Bennett, who earned NEVC Academic All-Conference (2024) honor.

VSU Johnson

2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster (returners: 6 | newcomers: 2)

2025 Results (6-13 overall, 0-6 NEVC) | 2025 Overall Stats | 2025 Postseason Finish: 7th

The Badgers look to make some noise in the NEVC in 2026, with four returning seniors to look upon for leadership throughout the season.

Russell Sage College Men’s Volleyball

2025 Overall Record: 9-23

2025 Conference Record: 1-5

2025 Conference Finish: Sixth

Postseason Run: Quarterfinals

Player To Watch #1 (Name, Yr., Pos, Hometown/High School):

Dylan Fox, Junior, Opposite, Albany, NY, Colonie

Player To Watch #2 (Name, Yr., Pos, Hometown/High School):

Anthony Guetti, Sophomore, Setter, Clifton Park, NY, Shenendehowa HS

Other Top Returners (2-3):

Spencer Cooper, John Lindheimer, Evan Devine

Roster:

Number of Players Returning: 10

Number of Players Lost: 7

Starters:

Starters Returning: 7

Starters Lost: 0

Top Newcomers (if any):

Eliseo Nogueras

Abel Bororing

SUNY Poly Men’s Volleyball

The 2026 men’s volleyball season marks a new chapter for the SUNY Poly Wildcats as the program looks to build on its 19–14 2025 campaign, which marked the Wildcats’ first back-to-back winning seasons in 10 years. The team returns nine experienced players, led by reigning NEVC Defensive Player of the Year Thomas McNulty. Under the direction of head coach Dan Short, now in his third season, the focus will be on consistency and teamwork. The Wildcats have opened the season with a 3–3 record, earning wins over Nazareth, Houghton, and Hilbert.

Potsdam Men’s Volleyball

2026 Schedule | 2026 Roster (returners: 12 | graduated 0 | newcomers: 5)

2025 Results (18-8, 5-1 NEVC) | 2025 Overall Stats | 2025 Postseason Finish: Semifinals

The SUNY Potsdam men's volleyball team enters its sixth season fresh off its best campaign in program history. 2025 NEVC Coach of the Year Josh Stokes and assistant coach Alyssa Adams lead the Bears again this season. The Bears finished with program records in overall and conference wins and closed out the regular season on a 12-match win streak to claim the second seed in the 2025 NEVC Playoffs.

Four starters return from last year's squad, including 2025 NEVC Athlete of the Year Matt Kilinski. The graduate student was also first team All-NEVC and is joined by senior and second team all-conference outside hitter Duncan Tenhagen. Kilinski led the Bears and was seventh in the NEVC with 249 kills. He also compiled 23 blocks, 20 service aces and 126 digs. Tenhagen was second on the team and 10th in the conference with 220 kills. He ranked seventh in the NEVC and led the Bears with 173 digs. He also contributed 19 service aces and 17 blocks.

Junior setter Alex Lombardo and senior middle hitter Mike Kilinski are also back after regularly being in the starting lineup. Lombardo ranked third in the NEVC with a career-high 697 assists. He also registered 110 digs, 22 blocks, 26 kills and 13 aces. Lombardo set the Bears single-match assist record with 61 against SUNY Poly in five sets last March. Mike Kilinski made an immediate impact in the lineup in his first season in Potsdam a year ago. Kilinski led the conference and set the program's single-season record with a .380 hitting percentage. He was third on the team with 134 kills, second with 48 blocks, as well as totaling 12 aces and 41 digs.

Eight other veterans return to Potsdam this season and are joined by five newcomers. The Bears are home for eight of their 17 regular season contests. They host four of their six NEVC matches including Bard (Feb. 7), Nichols (3/7), Russell Sage (3/14) and VSU Johnson (4/4). The Bears open the season at home on Saturday when they host Regis College and Buffalo State in a tri-match.