Contact: Brock Reisler, Assistant Executive Director, breisler@midwestconference.org
 
HILBERT, Wisconsin – The Cornell College Rams – winners of 13 consecutive Midwest Conference titles and owners of a 114-2 MWC record since 2012 – have been selected by the league’s coaches to win the conference again in 2026 as the preseason coaches poll was released on Wednesday morning.
 
Jeff Meeker’s squad received 79 points and seven of 10 first-place votes. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams.
 
Lawrence University – the league runner-up a season ago – received three first-place votes and 75 total points to come in second. Grinnell College was slotted third with 59 points, while Monmouth College and Illinois College each received 54 points to round out the top half of the poll.
 
Seven points separated the next three schools, as Luther College (39 points), Ripon College (36 points) and Lake Forest College (32 points) came in sixth through eighth, respectively. Knox College (14 points) and Beloit College (8 points) finished out the poll.
 
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.
 
For the first time, the Midwest Conference Volleyball Tournament takes on an expanded format in 2026. The top six teams in the regular season standings will compete for the league’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. MWC Tournament quarterfinals are set for Tuesday, November 10 while the semifinals and final are scheduled for Friday and Saturday (November 13-14).
 
Full preseason coaches’ poll results and quick facts for all 10 Conference teams can be found below:
 
2026 MWC Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll Results
1. Cornell College (7 first-place votes) - 79 points
2. Lawrence University (3) - 75 points
3. Grinnell College - 59 points
T4. Monmouth College - 54 points
T4. Illinois College - 54 points
6. Luther College - 39 points
7. Ripon College - 36 points
8. Lake Forest College - 32 points
9. Knox College - 14 points
10. Beloit College - 8 points
 
() – indicates first-place votes
*Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams.
 
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Lehua Enomoto (8th Season)
2025: 6-21 (overall); 0-8 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: None
 
Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Jeff Meeker (26th Season)
2025: 19-11 (overall); 8-0 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Nia Howard (Sr.); Selia Stein (So.); Ally Olmstead (Jr.); Hannah Cantwell (So.); Mia Tubbs (Jr.)
 
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Eric Ragan (10th Season)
2025: 12-16 (overall); 5-3 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Millie Leonard (Sr.); Keira Sullivan (Sr.); Kylie-Ann Smith (Sr.)
 
Illinois College Lady Blues
Head Coach: Claire Scully (3rd Season)
2025: 10-21 (overall); 5-3 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: None
 
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Maliah Blakemore (3rd Season)
2025: 3-26 (overall); 1-7 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: None
 
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: Melanie Hughes (3rd Season)
2025: 5-16 (overall); 2-6 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: None
 
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Jeff Van Lannen (3rd Season)
2025: 23-11 (overall); 6-2 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Audrey Weier (So.) - 2025 MWC Newcomer of the Year; Ally Corrente (So.); Hazel Cook (Jr.); Aria Wessel (So.)
 
Luther College Norse
Head Coach: Sam Rossetti (1st Season)
2025: 6-23 (overall); 0-8 (A-R-C)
All-Conference Returnees: None
 
Monmouth College Fighting Scots
Head Coach: Hope Neargarder (2nd Season)
2025: 12-14 (overall); 6-2 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Kaylee Celus (Jr.) - 2025 MWC Player of the Year
 
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Madison Schweitzer (1st Season)
2025: 9-19 (overall); 3-5 (MWC)
All-Conference Returnees: Makenna Harren (Jr.)