Contact: Brock Reisler, Assistant Executive Director, breisler@midwestconference.org
OSHKOSH, Wisconsin – After dominating the Midwest Conference regular season to the tune of a 106-2 record since 2012 with 12 consecutive league titles, the Cornell College volleyball program has been picked to win the 2025 MWC title - receiving eight first-place votes (coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team) and 64 points in the preseason coaches’ poll.
Grinnell College, whose only league losses last year came to Cornell - 3-1 in both the regular season and tournament title matches - secured second place in the preseason ranking with 55 points and the remaining first-place vote. Illinois College was picked to finish third with 46 points, while Monmouth College rounded out the top four (44 points).
Lawrence University was selected to finish in fifth place with 38 points. The Vikings were followed by Lake Forest College (31), Ripon College (20), Knox College (18) and Beloit College (8).
MWC schools compete in a single-round robin format during the regular season. The team with the highest winning percentage will be crowned the league’s Champion and earn the right to host the end-of-season tournament.
The MWC Volleyball Tournament weekend is scheduled for November 14-15. The league’s top-four teams will square off for the tournament title and the Conference’s Automatic Qualifier to the NCAA Tournament.
Full preseason coaches’ poll results and quick facts for all nine Conference teams can be found below:
2025 MWC Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll Results
1. Cornell College (8) - 64 points
2. Grinnell College (1) - 55 points
3. Illinois College - 46 points
4. Monmouth College - 44 points
5. Lawrence University - 38 points
6. Lake Forest College - 31 points
7. Ripon College - 20 points
8. Knox College - 18 points
9. Beloit College - 8 points
() – indicates first-place votes
*Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams.
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Lehua Kadooka (7th Season)
2024: 4-21 (overall); 0-8 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: None
Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Jeff Meeker (25th Season)
2024: 19-12 (overall); 8-0 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Ella Becker (Sr.); Ally Olmstead (So.)
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Eric Ragan (9th Season)
2024: 21-10 (overall); 7-1 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Millie Leonard (Jr.)
Illinois College Lady Blues
Head Coach: Claire Scully (2nd Season)
2024: 14-15 (overall); 5-3 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Laura Kaiser (Sr.)
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Maliah Blakemore (2nd Season)
2024: 3-22 (overall); 2-6 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: None
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: Melanie Hughes (2nd Season)
2024: 4-23 (overall); 3-5 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: None
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Jeff Van Lannen (2nd Season)
2024: 11-18 (overall); 4-4 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Margaret Hahnke,
2024 MWC Newcomer of the Year (So); Hazel Cook (So)
Monmouth College Fighting Scots
Head Coach: Hope Neargarder (1st Season)
2024: 19-11 (overall); 6-2 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Kaylee Celus (So.)
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Katie Astrauskas (16th Season)
2024: 10-18 (overall); 1-7 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Michaela Riege (Sr.)