Marlborough, Mass. - August 26, 2026 - With the NEWMAC women’s volleyball season set to begin in less than a week, a blend of established stars and emerging playmakers is set to influence the conference race. From decorated veterans to players poised for breakout seasons, here are 10 standouts to watch this fall.
1. Kayleigh May, S, MIT
Senior - Camarillo, California
Kayleigh May enters her senior season as the reigning NEWMAC Athlete of the Year and in 2025 earned First Team All-America accolades becoming the first in program history to receive multiple First Team honors. May powered MIT’s explosive offense by leading the nation in assists per set with 11.12. The Engineers also ranked second in Division III in kills per set, fifth in hitting percentage and May individually ranked 11th nationally in total assists with 1,168. With May on the roster, MIT 31-2 in NEWMAC games and has won two of the last three conference crowns.
2. Jodi Saeula, MB, Springfield
Senior - Mililani, Hawaii
Jodi Saelua earned honorable mention All-America accolades in 2025 after a breakout season as one of the top middle blockers in the country. The rising senior totaled 237 kills and a hit 361 to go along with 104 total blocks. She ranked 20th in Division III in hitting percentage and in the top-60 nationally in blocks per set and will surely be one of the top options for Springfield’s offense and defense in 2026.
3. Zoe Ackerman, S, Babson
Senior - Aurora, Colorado
Zoe Ackerman also earned honorable mention All-America honors in 2025 and will enter the 2026 season ranking third in Babson history in assists (2,965) and fifth in aces (183). As a junior, Ackerman set new career highs with 1,086 assists, 231 digs, 74 service aces and 51 total blocks in 31 matches. She averaged 8.98 assists and 1.91 digs per set while setting a new single-season record for assists and serving up the third most aces in program history and most by any Babson player since 2001.
4. Eileen Sadati, RS, MIT
Senior - San Juan Capistrano, California
Eileen Sadati was placed on the AVCA honorable mention All-America team as a junior after leading the program in kills with 355 and kills per set with 3.45. For her efforts, Sadati was also placed on the NEWMAC All-Conference First Team and All-Region First Team. The rising senior helped MIT set a program record with five All-Americans in 2025.
5. Else Kunze-Hoeg, S, Wellesley
Junior - Eagan, Minnesota
Else Kunze-Hoeg powered Wellesley’s offense in 2025 as she dished out 596 assists and ultimately led the Blue back to the NEWMAC Tournament for the second consecutive season. The sophomore setter hit .229 with 99 kills and ranked second on the team with 33 aces as well as third on the team in total blocks with 37. One of Wellesley’s two captains this fall, Kunze-Hoeg will look to have a stellar junior campaign under head coach Dorothy Webb.
6. Chloe Hokenson, S, Emerson
Junior - McLean, Virginia
Rising junior Chloe Hokenson earned NEWMAC All-Conference Second Team honors last fall for the first time in her career after a strong sophomore campaign. As a setter and outside hitter, who started in all 29 matches and played in all 113 sets, Hokenson led the Lions with 311.5 points. She logged ten double-doubles and a NEWMAC-best two triple doubles, which also ranked 18th in Division III. Hokenson dished out 20 or more assists in 14 matches and double-digit kills in nine matches including two 20+ kill efforts in November.
7. Mia Etheridge, OH, Smith
Senior - Half Moon Bay, California
Mia Etheridge earned NEWMAC All-Conference First Team honors in 2025 after a dominant junior season in Northampton. Etheridge led Smith n nearly every major attacking category this season, finishing with 239 kills over 21 matches, a team-high 595 attack attempts, and 283 total points while hitting an efficient .262 from the outside. She also ranked among the conference's top offensive threats, standing fifth in the NEWMAC in kills per set (3.16) as Smith secured another winning season and a spot in the league championship bracket.
8. Jackie Hochberg, L, Wheaton
Senior - Tampa, Florida
Jackie Hochberg will lead Wheaton’s defensive efforts in 2026 after playing in 29 total matches for the Lyons in 2025. Hochberg amassed 461 digs on the season, averaging 4.31 digs per set, while posting a .901 serve-receive percentage. She recorded a season-high 32 digs against Buffalo State on September 13 and added 27 digs against Rhode Island College on October 16. She finished with 25 digs and one kill against Wellesley on September 27. She also tallied 24 digs twice, first against Roger Williams on September 6 and again against Simmons on October 9.
9. Amelia Matson, OH, Coast Guard
Junior - Suffolk, Virginia
Amelia Matson earned a spot on the NEWMAC All-Conference Second Team in 2025 after leading the Bears in kills with 243 and points with 270.5. Matson was also third on the team in digs with 212.
10. Tori Colosimo, S, Springfield
Senior - Fairport, New York
Tori Colosimo also earned a spot on the NEWMAC All-Conference Second Team and took home AVCA All-America honorable mention accolades in 2025. She became the ninth student-athlete in Springfield women's volleyball history to eclipse 2,000 career assists and completed her stat line with 927 total assists (8.83 per set) 81 kills, 57 aces, 41 blocks and 249 digs. Her efforts running the Springfield offense led the Pride back to the NCAA Tournament once again under Moira Long.
About the NEWMAC
The NEWMAC is an association of 13 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Saint Anselm College (beginning reclassification process with NCAA in 2027-28), Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with seven Associate Members: New York University (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), SUNY New Paltz (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), and Vassar College (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), while sponsoring 21 sports.