Volleyball

2026 UMAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll and Season Preview

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) released the 2026 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 (6) 36
2 UW-Superior (1) 30
3 Bethany Lutheran 25
4 Minnesota Morris 23
5 Crown 15
6 Martin Luther 12
7 North Central 6
#1 Northwestern: 36 points
The Eagles led the preseason poll with 36 points and six first-place votes from their conference competitors.  

Northwestern has won 18 of the last 19 UMAC Regular Season Championships and 13 of the last 14 Tournament Championships. 

Head Coach: Beth Wilmeth | 23rd Season |

Top Returners
  • Addeson Jenniges, Jr., S | First-team All-UMAC | AVCA First-Team All-Region, AVCA Honorable-Mention All-American | #7 NCAA Assists/Set (10.50)
  • Ana Egge, Jr., OH | First-team All-UMAC | 295 kills, 2.68 kills/set
  • Miranda Wyatt, Jr., MB | First-team All-UMAC | 244 kills, 2.22 kills/set, .93 blocks/set
  • Anja Jarchow, Jr., OH | First-team All-UMAC | 295 kills, 2.71 kills/set

#2 UW-Superior: 30 points
The Yellowjackets received 30 points and the final first-place vote to rank second in the poll.

Head Coach: Molly Stock | 1st Season |

Top Returners
  • Makenna Hohbein, Jr., OH | Two-time First-team All-UMAC, 2024 UMAC Co-ROY, | 2025 AVCA Honorable Mention All-Region | 463 kills, .230, 3.73 k/s, 381 digs |
  • Savanna Hering, Jr., L | First-team All-UMAC | 2025 UMAC Defensive POY | 557 digs, 4.49 d/s, 38 aces|
  • Sydney Smith, Sr., MB | 70 blocks, 0.63 b/s, 159 kills |

#3 Bethany Lutheran: 25 points
The Vikings received 25 points for the third spot in the poll.

Head Coach: Laura Evans | 4th Season

Top Returners
  • Lilly Mehrkens, Jr., OH | First-team All-UMAC | Team Kills Leader (3.53 k/s), Second on Team in Digs (2.18 d/s)
  • Avery Carlsoy, Sr., DS/Lib | Academic All-District | 2.52 digs per set
  • Abby Maloney, Jr.  OH/M |

#4 Minnesota Morris: 23 points
The Cougars earned 23 points to rank fourth.

Head Coach: Joe Sussenguth | 9th season|  

Top Returners
  • Tori Scheler, Sr., MH| UMAC All-Academic | CSC All Academic All-District |.63 BPS, 1.12 KPS |
  • Clara Holden, Jr., S | UMAC Honorable Mention All-Conference | CSC Academic All-District | 5.26 Assists Per Set |51 Service Aces 
  • Bella Nelson, So., OPP | 1.73 BPS |

#5 Crown: 15 points
The Polars ranked fifth with their 15 points.

Head Coach: Celia Blattner | 4th season|

Top Returners
  • Delaney Boone, So, MB | Led the team in kills (147) and blocks (57) during her freshman season. She was also on our leaderboard for service aces. She now holds 3 records within our program. She ranked in 3 statistical categories in the 2025 UMAC standings.|
  • Alyssa Heagney, Sr, OH/DS | She is ranked on our leaderboard for kills (109), digs (231), assists (47), and service aces (18) all while struggling through an Achilles injury for the first half of the season. She holds 2 records within our program. She ranked in 1 statistical category in the 2025 UMAC standings.|
  • Ari Klein, Jr, OH/DS | Led the team in digs (279) and service aces (36) during her sophomore season. She was also on our leaderboard for assists and blocks. She now holds 1 record within our program. She ranked in 2 statistical categories in the 2025 UMAC standings.|

#6 Martin Luther: 12 points
The Knights received 12 points to rank sixth.

Head Coach: Emma Holzhueter | 5th Season |

Top Returners
  • Anna Kieselhorst, Sr, DS | 297 digs, .953 rec %, 18 aces |
  • Ella Walz, Sr, S | 384 assists, 4.68 a/s, 20 aces |
  • Hannah Rodmyre, Jr, MH/RH | 77 kills, 26 aces, .104 hitting pct |

#7 North Central: 6 points
The Rams completed the poll with six points.

Head Coach: John Olmanson | 1st season at NCU |

Top Returners
  • Abby Rhoades, So., S | 288 Assists in a 6-2 Offense, Co-lead team with 21 Service Aces
  • Tatum Olson, So., S | 244 Assists in a 6-2 Offense, Co-lead team with 21 Service Aces
  • Gabbie Ruzek, Jr., OH| Highest returner for kills at 143

The 2026 volleyball regular season opens on Tuesday, Sept. 1. 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 11 and the championship game slated for Saturday, November 14. The tournament champion will receive the UMAC’s automatic qualifying bid to the 2026 NCAA DIII Volleyball Championship to compete in the national tournament.