Great Midwest Athletic Conference head volleyball coaches see Ashland University as a contender in the East Division in 2026, as the Eagles are slotted in second place and just one voting point behind Walsh in the Great Midwest's volleyball coaches' preseason poll, released on Tuesday (Aug. 18) afternoon.
"Very excited to start the preseason. Pretty happy and pleased with the amount of votes we received in the poll," said first-year Eagle head coach
Alicia Wood. "Proud of the work the team has put in this preseason so far, and looking forward to getting season one underway."
The Eagles' 43 voting points and five first-place votes are just behind the Cavaliers (44 voting points, eight first-place votes) in the East. Hillsdale is the preseason pacesetter in the North Division with 31 voting points and seven first-place votes, and Cedarville is the same in the South Division with 34 voting points and 10 first-place votes.
Returning this fall are a pair of 2025 All-Great Midwest performers, and both are seniors – first-team libero
Abbey Queen and second-team setter
Marin Dixon.
Ashland finished the 2025 season at 13-14 overall and 8-8 in the Great Midwest, playing in the league tournament for a fifth season in a row.
The Eagles' 2026 campaign will start on Aug. 28-29 with three matches at the Findlay Classic, and they will open at Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium on Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. vs. the Great Midwest rival Oilers.
2026 GREAT MIDWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL COACHES' PRESEASON POLL
East Division
1. Walsh – 44 points (8 first-place votes)
2. ASHLAND UNIVERSITY – 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
