No region in the NCDA brings more tension and bad blood than the East Coast. Every matchup feels personal, every rivalry runs deep. Yet for all the passion, the East hasn’t had a team make the national title game since the now-defunct Towson Tigers claimed the title in 2019. This season, the landscape shifts: Virginia has stormed into the #1 spot, overtaking perennial powerhouse JMU and putting the entire East Coast on notice. With bragging rights, bitter rivalries, and national respect at stake, the East enters the year starving for redemption. The hunger is real — the only question is, who will rise from the fire and carry the this region back to glory?
Virginia
Wahoowa! The University of Virginia Cavaliers are the pre-season #1 in the East Coast region. The days of UVA being the doormat of the East Coast are long gone. After years of building through strong recruiting classes and keeping talent on campus, Virginia now finds itself sitting at the top of the region. With Landon Jones and Grady Holmes back to lead the charge, the Cavaliers have the firepower and depth to dominate. This squad is built to bring the East Coast Dodgeball Cup back to Charlottesville, and with another strong group of recruits, don’t be surprised if Virginia starts knocking on the door of a national championship. The Hoos are here — and they’re dangerous.
James Madison
Despite being the back-to-back East Coast Dodgeball Cup champions, JMU enters the season facing questions after the recent departures of cornerstone players like Joel Froyen, Trent Shaffer, Patrick Schwab, Evan Eschenburg, Eli Villareal, and Nick Foss. That’s a murderers’ row of talent to lose in just a couple of years. Even so, this program has never shied away from reloading, not rebuilding. All eyes now turn to CJ Promen, who has the tools to become the next face of the club and carry on JMU’s tradition of East Coast dominance.
The Dukes certainly don’t see themselves behind UVA — if anything, they’re itching to prove they’re still the team to beat in the region. The big question will be how many games they can get under their belt this year. The more experience this roster gains, the more dangerous they’ll be — both in the East Coast and on the national stage.
Penn State
Penn State’s 2024 campaign left plenty to be desired, with the Nittany Lions only managing four games before Nationals. That lack of experience showed, as they bowed out early in the first round. To make matters tougher, the program now moves forward without longtime standout Hunter Stewart, a player who gave Penn State a chance in nearly every point he stepped on the court. His absence leaves a massive void in both production and leadership.
The silver lining? There’s still talent in Happy Valley — and an opportunity to turn the page. For Penn State to grow and truly break through the East Coast hierarchy, they’ll need to commit to traveling and getting more tournament reps this year. If they do, the Nittany Lions could shed their reputation as a middle-of-the-pack squad and start building toward a more sustainable, competitive future.
Maryland
For as long as Maryland has been in the NCDA, the Terps have lived at the bottom of the East Coast ladder. It’s not that they’re a bad program — in fact, in other regions they’d likely settle into the middle tier — but in the East, they’ve never quite managed to break through. The familiar issues remain: limited tournament commitment and talent retention. If they can get out to tournaments this year, there’s hope they’ll start turning those weaknesses into strengths.
The clear bright spot is the return of Adam Butz, Maryland’s flame thrower and do-it-all playmaker. As long as he’s on the court, the Terps have someone who can shift momentum and give them a fighting chance. The question is whether the rest of the roster can step up and provide the depth needed to finally climb up the East Coast region.
Prospective Teams
UMBC, Stony Brook, and Uconn headline the prospective teams list for the East Coast region. It certainly has been a while since the region has added a team, but what better way to get more tournaments in? There is no other region in the league that would benefit more from the creation of a new team.
Pre-Season OT6
Landon Jones (UVA)
Grady Holmes (UVA)
Jaxson Hannie (JMU)
CJ Promen (JMU)
Adam Butz (UMD)
Arden Levin (UVA)
Pre-Season Power Rankings
- Virginia
- JMU
- Penn State
- Maryland