ST. PAUL – The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) released the 2025 Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll on Wednesday with Northwestern being predicted to win the conference championship. The poll is voted on by all the head coaches in the conference. Coaches cannot vote for their own team.
Complete poll
| Place |
School |
Points |
| 1 |
Northwestern (5) |
35 |
| 2 |
UW-Superior (2) |
32 |
| 3 |
Minnesota Morris |
26 |
| 4 |
Bethany Lutheran |
18 |
| 5 |
Martin Luther |
14 |
| 6 |
Crown |
11 |
| 6 |
North Central |
11 |
#1 Northwestern: 35 points
The Eagles received 35 points for the top spot, which included five first-place votes from their conference competitors.
Northwestern won the UMAC tournament title for the sixth-straight year to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
Head coach: Beth Wilmeth | 22nd Season |
Top Returners
- Marley Aune, Sr, MB | 7th in NCAA blocks/set (1.32), 1st in UMAC hitting percentage (.390) |
- Miranda Wyatt, So, MB | 2024 First-team All-UMAC | 2024 UMAC Rookie of the Year | 2nd in UMAC blocks/set (1.09), 7 th in UMAC hitting percentage (.291) |
#2 UW-Superior: 32 points
The YellowJackets earned 32 points and the remaining two first-place votes to rank second.
Head coach: Lynne Deadrick | 23rd Season |
Top Returners
- Colleen Claude, Sr., S | 2x CSC Academic All-District | 2x UMAC Academic All-Conference | 698 assists, 5.97 assists per set, 14 service aces |
- Sydney Smith, Jr., MH/RSH | CSC Academic All-District | UMAC Academic All-Conference | .280 attack percentage, 185 kills, 86 total blocks |
- Makenna Hohbein, So., OH | First-team All-UMAC| UMAC Co-Rookie of the Year | 311 kills, 2.59 kills per set, 345 points, 400 digs |
#3 Minnesota Morris: 26 points
The Cougars received 26 points for third on this poll.
Head coach: Joe Sussenguth | 8th season |
Top Returners
- Mary Cate Ziembiec, Sr., OH| First-team All-UMAC | 2.46 KPS, .48 Aces Per Set, 2.97 DPS
- Anna Molstad, Sr., OPP| UMAC Honorable Mention|1.77 KPS, .52 BPS
- Tori Scheler, Jr., MH| UMAC Honorable Mention | 1.37 KPS, .83 BPS
#4 Bethany Lutheran: 18 points
The Vikings earned 18 points for fourth on the list.
Head coach: Laura Evans | 3rd season
Top Returners
- Maddie Meyer, Sr., Middle blocker | First-team All-UMAC | .302 attack percentage, 252 kills, 59 blocks
- Abby Distad, So., Setter | All-Conference honorable mention | 8.38 assists per set (871 assists), 216 digs
- Lilly Mehrkens, So., Outside hitter | All-Conference honorable mention | 303 kills (2.94 per set)
#5 Martin Luther: 14 points
The Knights received 14 points to rank fifth.
Head coach: Emma Holzhueter | 4th season
Top Returners
- Lydia Feidt, Senior, Middle Hitter/Outside Hitter | led all returners in kills (204) and blocks (47) from a season ago
- Ella Walz, Junior, Setter | Led MLC in assists (471), 4.91 assists per set
- Anna Kieselhorst, Junior, Defensive Specialist/Libero | Led Knights in digs (416), 4.04 per set
#6 Crown & North Central: 11 points
The Polars and Rams each received 11 points to rank sixth.
Crown
Head coach: Celia Blattner |3rd season|
Top Returners
- Alyssa Heagney, Jr, OH/DS | Last season as a 3 rotation OH – 148 kills, 158 digs, 20 aces and .911% in serve reception |
- Ellie Fuller, So, DS/L | Last season as a libero – 403 digs, 5.17 digs/set, 20 aces and .939% in serve reception |
- Madi Smith, So, MB | Last season as a middle blocker – 37 blocks and 70 kills |
North Central
Head coach: Jessica Curry | 1st season |
Top Returners
- Maci Tripp, Sr., DS | NCCAA DII North Region Second-team| 4.25 digs per set, team leader with 335 total digs
- Lexie Semrau, Sr., MH | Totaled 113 kills and 27 blocks in 2024, 10th in UMAC for hitting percentage with .225
The 2025 volleyball regular season opens on Friday, August 29. The top four teams in the standings at the close of the regular season will compete in the UMAC Tournament, with the semifinals scheduled for Wednesday, November 12 and the championship game slated for Saturday, November 15. The tournament champion will receive the UMAC’s automatic qualifying bid to the 2025 NCAA DIII Volleyball Championship to compete in the national tournament.