EIU Volleyball Picked Eighth In OVC Preseason Poll

With one exhibition game left on the table, Eastern Illinois’ Volleyball 2025 season is approaching quickly. EIU kicks off their regular season next week on the road in the Ohio Bobcat Tournament, facing Bucknell and Ohio University. 

The OVC has officially released their preseason predicted order of finish, returning All-OVC members, and players to watch for the upcoming season. 

EIU was picked to finish eighth in the preseason poll, which was led by the top three finishers from the 2024 season. Southeast Missouri took first with 194 votes, followed by Lindenwood with 161 and Tennessee Tech in third place with 160 total votes. 

The EIU volleyball team is now led by new head coach Ryan Miller. The 14th coach in program history took over the reins starting with beach volleyball in the spring of 2024. Miller was a fifteen-year member of the USA Men’s National Team and a part of the 2008 USA Olympic gold medal-winning team. Prior to Eastern Illinois, Miller served as associate head coach at San Diego Miramar College for three seasons. In addition, Coach Miller was the interim head coach for BYU’s men’s program in 2007 and earned a record of 24-6. 

Eastern Illinois’ OVC opener is at home, September 26th versus Lindenwood on the Gardella Family Court. The OVC tournament will take place November 23-25 at the highest seed’s campus site. The Panthers kicked off their 2025 season campaign with the Blue/White Scrimmage on August 16th and will face Illinois State this Saturday, August 23rd, for one final tune-up before the Ohio Bobcat Tournament. 

2025 OVC Volleyball Predicted Order of Finish

1. Southeast Missouri (15) – 194

2. Lindenwood (1) – 161

3. Tennessee Tech (6) – 160

4. Morehead State – 148

5. Little Rock – 132

6. Western Illinois – 121

7. SIUE – 78

8. Eastern Illinois – 76

9. UT Martin – 48

T10. Southern Indiana – 46

        Tennessee State – 46

2025 OVC Volleyball Returning All-OVC

RS – Autumn Bax, Lindenwood   

DS – Andrea Roman, Little Rock

OH – M.E. Hargan, Morehead State

OH – Lucy Arndt, Southeast Missouri

L – Nina Schuberth, Southeast Missouri

MH – Bianca Anderson, Southern Indiana

S – Jordan Karlen, Tennessee Tech

OH – Alayna Pierce, Tennessee Tech

OH – Kylie Surratt, UT Martin

OH – Keyana Cruse, Western Illinois

2025 OVC Volleyball Watch List

Lilli Amettis, Sr., OH, Eastern Illinois

Ashley Geluck, Jr., MB, Lindenwood

A’lanae Margaritha, Sr., MB, Little Rock

Amelia Nott, Jr., MB, Morehead State

Alaina Lester, So., MB, Southeast Missouri

Bree Schreimann, Sr., OH, SIUE

Ashby Willis, Jr., OH, Southern Indiana

Melae’ Lacy, So., OH, Tennessee State

Jordyn Milhouse, Fr., MB, Tennessee Tech

Kayla Bryant, Sr., OH, UT Martin

Kennedy Adair, Jr., OH, Western Illinois