Christopher Newport is the favorite in the 2025 Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference (C2C) Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll, following a vote among the conference head coaches. The defending champion Captains collected 36 points and six first-place votes to lead the rankings.

Salisbury earned 29 points to finish second with one top vote.

UC Santa Cruz totaled 27 points to rank third, while Mary Washington was fourth (22).

C2C newcomer Regent tallied 14 points in fifth place, while Warren Wilson (11) and first-year member JWU Charlotte (8) rounded out the poll.

The 2025 season begins on August 29 and the C2C Women's Volleyball Championship, a 6-team tournament, will be hosted by UC Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, California, on November 14 and 15. 

Below is a brief preview of each team entering the 2025 season:

Christopher Newport: The Captains captured the 2024 C2C Championship and wrapped up the season ranked No. 21 in the AVCA Coaches' Poll. After reaching the NCAA Regional Championship for the seventh time in program history, CNU will look to replicate that success again in 2025. Leading the way will be All-American middle blocker Alyssa Dozier, a two-time Conference Player of the Year, returning for her senior season in 2025. Last year, Dozier hit a team-best .313 with 386 kills and 147 blocks, ranking second most in program history. Head coach Lindsay Birch returns for her 23rd season to lead the way for a squad that returns seven players who saw action in at least 50 percent of the Captains' sets last year.

Salisbury: The Sea Gulls takes aim for a second C2C title in three years, fifth straight C2C championship appearance, and fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth after finishing 24-7 in 2024. Under the direction of first-year head coach Kendall Jacobsen, SU returns a pair of All-Americans in middle blocker Gwen Eustace and opposite Kiley McTaggart, as well as two-time All-C2C setter Julie Altieri.

UC Santa Cruz: The Banana Slugs finished last season with a 16-14 record falling in the C2C Semifinals. UCSC will be led by new head coach in Chad Koenegstein and welcomes back 14 players, including the 2024 C2C Rookie of the Year Margo Melgoza, and second team All-C2C player Olly Gordon. The Banana Slugs also have six new faces on the roster to make key contributions to the 2025 campaign.

Mary Washington: Second year head coach Emma Rohde welcomes back eight letter winners from last season, headlined by senior middle Avery Gallahue, who posted 125 kills and 72 total blocks a season ago while playing in 30 matches. Also back are junior libero/defensive specialists Sydney Aiken and Julia Gustafson, as well as sophomore outside hitter Jocelyn Fang, who scored 47 kills and 73 digs as a first year in 2024.

Regent: The Royals are coming off back-to-back double digit winning seasons which saw them capture an NCCAA South Region Championship, while also earning a berth in the National Championship tournament.  Fourth year Head Coach and AVCA Thirty under 30 Award Winner Katelyn "K.T." Totherow returns a team led by 2024 NCCAA All-South Region First Team selection junior Erin Saunders (Danville, Va.), who was also a national offensive player of the week last season.  Senior Brielle Peltonen (Virginia Beach, Va.), junior Eliana Winn (Albuquerque, NM), sophomores Alaina Braun-Duin (Richmond, Va.) and Madison Hardiman (Memphis, Tenn.) round out the returners in addition to one transfer and seven freshmen. 

Warren Wilson: After a year of regrouping following the cancellation of the 2024 season due to Hurricane Helene, the Owls are ready to return to the court with renewed focus and determination. Head Coach Kristy Kamer leads a balanced mix of experienced returners and promising newcomers into the 2025 campaign.  Key returners include seniors KJ Helinsky and Sydney Weber, along with juniors Josie McCoy, Pandora Keele, and Alaina Castengera. Newcomers Ryanne Dotson and Kylee Egidi add depth for WWC.

JWU Charlotte: The Wildcats begin their second season under the direction of head coach Moana Reid. The team features 11 newcomers, 10 first year players and transfer Hailie Gordy that will join nine returning players. Loshi Ward earned USCAA Honorable Mention All-American honors as a freshman setter last season, totaling 496 assists and 35 service aces. JWU's top returning point scorer is sophomore outside hitter Kalin Lincoln, who totaled 233 points in 2024, recording 184 kills and a team-high 38 service aces.