LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (Aug. 13) – The California (PA) volleyball team was tabbed fifth in the preseason Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West poll released by the league office on Thursday afternoon.

The Vulcans received their highest preseason ranking in the poll since the 2019 campaign. Cal tied for fifth in the PSAC West standings last year with a 6-8 league record and a 19-11 overall record, representing a 16-win improvement from the previous season.

Gannon was the preseason favorite for the fourth-straight year after repeating as the NCAA Atlantic Region Champions. The Golden Knights, which received seven first-place votes on Thursday, finished last year with a 27-8 overall record with their lone conference loss coming on the road against the Vulcans in November. IUP (22-8) earned the remaining first-place vote and was positioned second, while Pitt-Johnstown and Clarion rounded out the top half of the preseason poll.

In the PSAC East, Shippensburg collected five first-place votes following a fourth-straight appearance in the PSAC Tournament. The Raiders finished last year with a 20-9 overall record and ranked second in the divisional standings. Shepherd finished second in the poll behind a pair of first-place votes, while defending-PSAC Champion East Stroudsburg earned the remaining first-place vote and was slotted third.

In volleyball, the PSAC features an unbalanced divisional format with the PSAC West remaining at eight teams. The unbalanced format was implemented in response to Lackawanna transitioning to NCAA Division II and playing a divisional schedule against PSAC East opponents.

Under the direction of third-year head coach Audrey Emerich, the Vulcans open the season in Ohio on Aug. 28-29 with three matches at the Findlay Classic.