EDISON, NJ (Feb. 13, 2026) – Jacksonville University has been voted as the preseason favorite in the 2026 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Women’s Rowing Preseason Coaches’ Poll, as voted on by the league's head coaches.
Jacksonville was voted the preseason favorite, earning 76 points and five first place votes to lead the poll. The Dolphins finished as runner up at the 2025 MAAC Rowing Championship, tying Fairfield University with a league-high 47 points. The MAAC Championship was ultimately decided by the 1V8 race, where Fairfield University claimed the victory to secure the title and prevent Jacksonville from capturing its fourth consecutive championship. Jacksonville has won eight conference titles since 2014.
Picked tied for second in the poll were defending champion, Fairfield and Marist University, receiving 65 points each. The Red Foxes earned two first place votes, while the Stags received one first place vote. Sacred Heart University was tabbed fourth in the poll, picking up the final first place vote and 59 points, while Stetson University (49) rounded out the top five.
The full Preseason Coaches’ Poll can be found below.
| 2026 Women’s Rowing Preseason Coaches’ Poll |
| 1 |
Jacksonville |
76 (5) |
| T2 |
Marist |
65 (2) |
| T2 |
Fairfield |
65 (1) |
| 4 |
Sacred Heart |
59 (1) |
| 5 |
Stetson |
49 |
| 6 |
Canisius |
36 |
| 7 |
Drake |
22 |
| 8 |
Iona |
21 |
| 9 |
Merrimack |
12 |
The 2026 MAAC Women's Rowing Championship will take place at Cooper River Park in Pennsauken Township, NJ on May 17, 2026. The championship returns to Cooper River for the seventh time over the past eight championships. For all information regarding the 2026 MAAC Women's Rowing Championship please visit
maacsports.com/rowing.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 45th year of competition during the 2025-26 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena University.
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