Rutgers University-Newark has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2003 New Jersey Athletic Conference Volleyball Championship in a poll completed by the head coaches around the league. The Scarlet Raiders, who tied for first in the 2002 NJAC regular season, advanced to last year's NJAC championship match before falling to eventual champion Rowan. .

Under the direction of fourth-year head coach Sean Byron, the Scarlet Raiders have posted a conference regular season record of 13-2 over the past two seasons. Rutgers-Newark returns two 2002 first-team All-Conference team members in outside hitters Domini Lanzone and Robin Pearce.  

Richard Stockton, who tied for first in the NJAC regular season last year but fell to Rowan in the NJAC Tournament semifinals, finished second in the poll. The Ospreys return two 2002 All-Conference team members in setter Kate Hahn and outside hitter Whitney Verduin, the 2002 NJAC Co-Rookie of the Year.  
 
Rounding out the rest of the top finishers in the preseason poll are defending conference champion Rowan in third, William Paterson in fourth, the coaches' dark horse selection Kean in fifth, New Jersey City in sixth, Montclair State in seventh, Ramapo in eighth and Rutgers-Camden in ninth.  

Conference play in the NJAC will begin on September 9. The regular season will conclude on October 28.

The 2003 New Jersey Athletic Conference championship tournament will include participation by the top six finishers in the regular season. The number one and two-seeded teams will receive first round byes.

The first round of the 2003 NJAC Tournament will take place on November 4. The tournament semifinals will take place on November 6, and the 2003 NJAC champion will be crowned at the conference championship match on November 8. All tournament matches are held at the site of the highest seed. The winner of the NJAC Tournament receives the conference's automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.