Perennial and reigning conference champ Hillsdale and Ashland are the two division favorites in a preseason poll of the Great Midwest's volleyball coaches. Hillsdale received the most overall points in the poll, while Ashland received the most first-place votes.
Hillsdale, 30-5 overall in 2021, has the won regular season in each of the last four seasons and is undefeated in conference play since 2017. The Chargers are 62-9 in their last 71 matches dating back to 2019. HC returns its leading hitter from last year in Karoline Shelton (410 kills, 3.69 per set) along with digs leader Alli Wiese (624 digs). Wiese was second in the Great Midwest last year with 5.37 digs per set. Shelton was also third on the team in blocks. Maizie Brown, second on HC with 88 blocks last year, also returns.
Ashland won 18 matches last season, including a 13-3 record in its first Great Midwest season. AU returns three of its top four leading hitters, headlined by fifth-year senior Erin Krupar (504 kills, 4.58 per set). Sage Kissman and Anna Krikke combined for 320 kills last year and the Eagles also return starting setter Zoey Peck, who was in the top four in the league in passing.
In the North Division, Findlay and Walsh each garnered a first-place vote and polled in the top three of the division. Findlay returns last year's leaders in hitting percentage (Emma Meyer, .390) and kills per set (Journey Blevins, 4.69). In the South Division, Trevecca Nazarene received one first-place vote while Ohio Dominican was voted third in the division.
NORTH DIVISION
| Ranking |
Schools (1st Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
Hillsdale (11) |
83 |
| 2. |
Findlay (1) |
71 |
| 3. |
Walsh (1) |
60 |
| 4. |
Northwood |
48 |
| 5. |
Malone |
40 |
| 6. |
Ursuline |
30 |
| 7. |
Lake Erie |
25 |
SOUTH DIVISION
| Ranking |
Schools (1st Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
Ashland (12) |
72 |
| 2. |
Trevecca Nazarene (1) |
53 |
| 3. |
Ohio Dominican |
50 |
| 4. |
Cedarville |
43 |
| 5. |
Tiffin |
32 |
| 6. |
Kentucky Wesleyan |
17 |
GREAT MIDWEST VOLLEYBALL RETURNING LEADERS
TOTAL KILLS
| Ranking |
Player, School |
Total |
| 1. |
Erin Kruper, AU |
504 |
| 2. |
Karoline Shelton, HC |
410 |
| 3. |
Journey Blevins, UF |
399 |
| 4. |
Ellie Buffler, TNU |
380 |
TOTAL DIGS
| Ranking |
Player, School |
Total |
| 1. |
Allie Wiese, HC |
623 |
| 2. |
Kelsey Shoup, ODU |
549 |
| 3. |
Karoline Shelton, HC |
507 |
| 4. |
Macy McCauley, MU |
411 |
TOTAL ACES
| Ranking |
Player, School |
Total |
| 1. |
Ellie Buffler, TNU |
49 |
| T2. |
Olivia Kearns, WU |
43 |
| T3. |
Alli Wiese, HC |
43 |
| 4. |
Audrey Riley, HC |
35 |
TOTAL BLOCKS
| Ranking |
Player, School |
Total |
| 1. |
Anna Krikke, AU |
102 |
| 2. |
Kristen Hankins, MU |
90 |
| 3. |
Maizie Brown, HC |
87 |
| 4. |
Grace Lindquist, WU |
76 |