BETHLEHEM, Pa. - For the first time since 2019, the American University volleyball team has been selected to finish first in the Patriot League Preseason Poll. Deniz Dakak was voted Preseason Player and Setter of the Year, while Bella Marrero earned the Defensive Player of the Year honor. Prinzez Zeck, Elise Sterling, and Sophie Dufour join them on the Preseason All-League Team. 

The Eagles are coming off a historic 2025 season that saw them win the Patriot League Championship, and they have returned every player from that roster. They finished 24-5 overall and 15-1 in PL play, including a 17-match winning streak up through the conference tournament. American swept the Patriot League Postseason Awards, including six total All-League selections. Dakak is the reigning Player and Setter of the Year, and Marrero is the reigning Libero of the Year, which has been changed to "Defensive Player of the Year." 

As the engine of American's offense, Dakak drove the Eagles to a .294 hitting percentage that ranked 12th in the country, along with her 10.53 assists per set that ranked 16th. Marrero was spectacular at libero all season long, racking up 371 digs and anchoring a defense that held the third-lowest opponent hitting percentage in the country at .140.

Zeck and Dufour were both First Team All-Patriot League selections last year, and Sterling landed on the Second Team. The outside hitter Dufour had a sensational debut campaign, proving to be one of the most dangerous scoring threats in the conference and winning the Rookie of the Year award. She logged 391.5 points, putting down 345 kills and averaging 3.83 per set. 

Zeck and Sterling combined to be a dominant duo upfront. Zeck, a former walk-on, broke out to hit .396 with 178 kills and 98 blocks. Sterling led the PL in hitting percentage at .413 on 190 kills, which ranked 22nd in the country and second all-time in American's program history.  

First-year head coach Jenny Glenn and the Eagles will kick off their season on Friday, Aug. 28 at home against Georgetown. The program is making its debut in the new Meltzer Center on Barry Goldberg Court, honoring the late, legendary head coach. Tickets are available at aueagles.com/tickets. 

2026 Patriot League Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. American, 64 (8 first-place votes)
2. Colgate, 57 (1 first-place vote)
3. Army West Point, 45
4. Lehigh, 39
5. Navy, 38
6. Bucknell, 36
7. Holy Cross, 17
8. Loyola Maryland, 14
9. Lafayette, 13

2026 Patriot League Preseason Women's Volleyball Major Awards
Player & Setter of the Year – Deniz Dakak, American, Jr., S
Defensive Player of the Year – Bella Marrero, American, Jr., L

2026 Preseason All-Patriot League Women's Volleyball Team*
Deniz Dakak, American, Jr., S
Sophie Dufour, American, So., OH
Bella Marrero, American, Jr., L
Elise Sterling, American, So., MB
Prinzez Zeck, American, Sr., MB
Juliette Myrick, Army West Point, Sr., S
Sidney Shaffer, Bucknell, Sr., MB
Milan Bayless, Colgate, Sr., OH
Tiana Owens, Colgate, Jr., OH
Alysia Fingall, Lehigh, Sr., RS
Natalie Luscomb, Lehigh, Sr., RS
Note: Student-athletes are listed alphabetically by institution
*Due to a tie in voting, there are 11 members on the Preseason All-Patriot League Women's Volleyball Team