Contact: Chassidy Holloway, Associate Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org
 
GRINNELL, Iowa – Cornell College has been chosen by the league’s head coaches as the team to beat for the 2023 Midwest Conference (MWC) volleyball season. The Rams received eight first-place votes and 64 points to finish first in the preseason coaches’ poll.
 
A season ago, Cornell won its tenth consecutive MWC volleyball championship and eighth tournament title, dating back to 2012.  
 
Tied for second place, Lake Forest College and Grinnell College picked up 53 points, while the Foresters claimed the remaining first-place vote.
 
In fourth place, the Lady Blues of Illinois College earned 44 points, ahead of the Fighting Scots of Monmouth College in fifth with 36 points.
 
Ripon College collected 28 points for sixth place, followed by Beloit College (23), Knox College (14), and Lawrence University (9).
 
The season kicks off Friday, September 1, with league teams facing off against non-conference opponents, while MWC play begins Friday, September 29.
 
The MWC Volleyball Tournament weekend is scheduled for November 10-11. The league’s top-four teams will square off for the tournament title and the league’s automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Full preseason coaches’ poll results and quick facts for all nine league teams can be found below:
 
2023 MWC Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll Results
1. Cornell College (8) – 64 points
T2. Lake Forest College (1) – 53 points
T2. Grinnell College – 53 points
4. Illinois College – 44 points
5. Monmouth College – 36 points
6. Ripon College – 28 points
7. Beloit College – 23 points
8. Knox College – 14 points
9. Lawrence University – 9 points
 
() – indicates first-place votes 
*Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams. 
 
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Lehua Kadooka (5^th Season)
2022: 7-17 (overall); 3-5 MWC
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Jeff Meeker (23^rd Season)
2022: 22-8 (overall); 8-0 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Clare Green (Jr), Grace Marti (5^th Year), Ella McLaughlin (So), Illah Perez-Johnson (Sr)
 
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Eric Ragan (7^th Season)
2022: 17-11 (overall); 6-2 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Emily Brewer (Sr), Malaina Miles (Sr), Hayley Taka (So)
 
Illinois College Lady Blues
Head Coach: Alicia Wood (4^th Season)
2022: 12-18 (overall); 5-3 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Jen Humbolt (Sr), Paige Knuffman (Sr)
 
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Lonnie Rinell (1^st Season)
2022: 6-17 (overall); 1-7 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: Katie Rueffer (5^th Season)
2022: 16-13 (overall); 7-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Mary Gegen (Sr)
 
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Meg Grose (1^st Season)
2022: 1-26 (overall); 0-8 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Monmouth College Scots
Head Coach: Derrick Broekemier (1^st Season)
2022: 11-15 (overall); 3-5 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Ripon College Red Hawks 
Head Coach: Katie Astrauskas (14^th Season)
2022: 5-21 (overall); 3-5 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: N/A