INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) has announced the results of the 2026 Volleyball Coaches Preseason Poll, as voted on by the conference's head coaches. With the 2026 season approaching, Walsh, Hillsdale, and Cedarville have been selected as the preseason favorites in their respective divisions.
The 2026 season marks another competitive year of G-MAC volleyball, with 13 teams competing across the East, North, and South Divisions. Coaches selected their predicted order of finish within their respective divisions, with first-place votes also included in the preseason voting.
Walsh narrowly claimed the top spot in the East Division, earning 44 points and eight first-place votes. The Cavaliers edged out Ashland, which received 43 points and five first-place votes, setting the stage for another highly competitive race at the top of the division.
Sophomore middle back Brynn Egbert is a top returner for head coach Brett Holt and the Cavaliers. During her freshman season, Egbert played in 68 sets, recording 101kills and 58 blocks. Her 58 blocks ranked in the top 15 in the conference last season. Defensive Specialist Locie Levengood will also return after a sophomore season that saw 3.75 digs per set, a team-high and fifth-best in the league.
The Eagles will look to capture their second East Division title under first-year head coach Alicia Wood. All-Conference selections in Abbey Queen and Marin Dixon are set to return for AU. Queen was voted first-team as a libero for the second straight season after leading the team in digs at 443. She added 71 assists and 19 service aces on the year. Queen’s 5.09 digs per set ranked as a conference-best. Dixon, a senior setter, compiled 857 assists, 45 kills, and 18 service aces across 88 sets.
Lake Erie was picked third with 18 points, followed by Malone with 14 points and Ursuline with 13 points.
Hillsdale was selected as the preseason favorite in the North Division, collecting 31 points and seven first-place votes. The Chargers were followed closely by Findlay, which earned 28 points and six first-place votes, making the North Division another race expected to be decided by a narrow margin.
The Chargers advanced to the semifinal round of the conference championship last season and will look to replace all-conference middle hitter Adi Sysum, but return junior standout Jenna Southland, who started in 25 of 26 matches and led the Chargers in blocks at 86. She added 167 kills, including a career-high 16 against Augusta. Caroline Lanicek is the top returning hitter for Hillsdale after registering 198 kills last season. The duo of Lanicek and Southland will look to lead the Chargers to their eighth conference title.
Findlay will miss 2025 Player of the Year Emma White, but return all-conference libero Hannah Miller. The Tiffin, Ohio native appeared in all 30 matches and led the team with 339 digs at 3.17 per set. She earned NCAA Midwest All-Tournament Team as the Oilers advanced to the regional semifinals. Outside Hitter Lauren Foerster also returns after earning Second-Team All-Region last season. She totaled 345 total points that included 321 kills for 3.09 per set.
Northwood was picked third with 14 points, while Tiffin rounded out the division with 13 points.
Cedarville enters the 2026 season as the preseason favorite in the South Division, earning 34 points and 10 first-place votes. The Yellow Jackets were followed by reigning champions Ohio Dominican, which collected 27 points and three first-place votes.
2025 Coach of the Year Greg Smith returns a talented group that includes two first-team all-conference selections in Madelyn Hensley and Alivia Rutt. Hensley ranked third in the league in kills at 3.84 per set with 442.0 points on the year. Rutt returns after appearing in 104 sets, where she recorded 511 digs at 4.91 per set. The Yellow Jackets finished one of the most historic seasons in program history, losing just one conference game on the year and advancing to the conference championship.
Libero Lauren Dinunzi is a top returner for Ohio Dominican, after leading the Panthers to their first ever G-MAC title. Dinunzi registered 416 digs through 120 sets. Dinunzi also led the team in service aces at 41 on the year.
Thomas More was selected third with 16 points, while Kentucky Wesleyan finished fourth with 13 points.
With three competitive division races highlighted by close voting at the top of the East and North, the 2026 G-MAC volleyball season is poised for another exciting campaign. Teams will look to build on the momentum of the 2025 season as conference play gets underway this fall.
2026 Volleyball Coaches Preseason Poll
East Division
1. Walsh- 44 points (8 first place votes)
2. Ashland- 43 points (5 first place votes)
3. Lake Erie- 18 points
4. Malone- 14 points
5. Ursuline- 13 points
North Division
1. Hillsdale- 31 points (7 first place votes)
2. Findlay- 28 points (6 first place votes)
3. Northwood- 14 points
4. Tiffin- 13 points
South Division
1. Cedarville- 34 points (10 first place votes)
2. Ohio Dominican- 27 points (3 first place votes)
3. Thomas More- 16 points
4. Kentucky Wesleyan- 13 points