The Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association has announced the 2026 preseason poll this morning with Lindenwood coming in at number six with 33 votes. The Lions were picked to finish ahead of Purdue Fort Wayne (24 votes), Northern Kentucky (19 votes), and Queens (16 votes). 

Loyola Chicago was picked to win the conference as they received 73 votes (five first place votes) and right behind them is Ohio State with 68 votes (two first place votes). Rounding out the top five was Ball State (63 votes), Lewis (57 votes), and McKendree (52 votes). There were 12 players named to the 2026 Preseason All-MIVA Team with Patrick Rogers from Ball State being named the 2026 Preseason MIVA Player of the Year.

Lindenwood opens the season on January 9th at Long Beach State at 9 p.m. CT and MIVA play will start on February 4 at 7 p.m. in Hyland Arena against Loyola Chicago. 

2026 Preseason Poll

1. Loyola Chicago – 73 (5)

2. Ohio State – 68 (2)

3. Ball State – 63 (1)

4. Lewis – 57 (1)

5. McKendree – 52

6. Lindenwood – 33

7. Purdue Fort Wayne – 24

8. Northern Kentucky – 19

9. Queens – 16

2026 Preseason All-MIVA Team (alphabetical by team)

Lucas Machado – Ball State

*Patrick Rogers – Ball State

Oguzhan Oguz – Lewis

Nico Paula – Lewis

Ryan McElligott – Loyola Chicago

Daniel Fabikovic – Loyola Chicago

Aleksander Sosa – Loyola Chicago

Yadiel Diaz – McKendree

Nate Flayter – McKendree

Stanislaw Chacinski – Ohio State

Shane Wetzel – Ohio State

Logan Muir – Purdue Fort Wayne

*Preseason Player of the Year

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Purdue Fort Wayne men’s volleyball’s Logan Muir was selected for the Preseason All-MIVA Team, the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association announced on Monday (Dec. 15).

Muir was named to the 2025 All-MIVA Second Team following last season.

The Junior led the Mastodons in points (464.5), kills (391) and service aces (41) last year. He was second in the MIVA in kills per set (4.39), aces per set (0.41) and points per set (5.19) during conference play. Muir’s 5.09 points per set ranked fifth in the nation. The California native also was 10th in the MIVA in hitting percentage with .299. Muir recorded double-digit kills in 19 of the ‘Dons’ 26 matches. He hit a career-high 23 kills in three sets at McKendree, the third most in the program’s rally scoring era.

Purdue Fort Wayne finished seventh in the MIVA last season, finishing with a 4-12 conference record. 

Muir and the Mastodons open the season on the Arnie Ball Court against Missouri S&T on January 10.

2026 Preseason All-MIVA Team (alphabetical by team)

Lucas Machado – Ball State

*Patrick Rogers – Ball State

Oguzhan Oguz – Lewis

Nico Paula – Lewis

Ryan McElligott – Loyola Chicago

Daniel Fabikovic – Loyola Chicago

Aleksander Sosa – Loyola Chicago

Yadiel Diaz – McKendree

Nate Flayter – McKendree

Stanislaw Chacinski – Ohio State

Shane Wetzel – Ohio State

Logan Muir – Purdue Fort Wayne

*Preseason Player of the Year

 

~ Feel the Rumble ~

AUSTIN, Texas – As Wisconsin’s Charlie Fuerbringer came up with a big block in the first set, Wisconsin volleyball coach Kelly Sheffield raised his arms in what somewhat resembled a flexing motion.

It was one of many ways in which the Badgers flexed their muscle on SEC power Texas as they won on the road in four sets, 25-22, 25-21, 20-25, 25-19, en route to their sixth Final Four of the Sheffield era and seventh overall in program history.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced the 78 student-athletes placed on the Academic All-MAC Team for the 2025 volleyball season. 
 
Eastern Michigan, Miami, and Western Michigan led the league with eight student-athletes each. Ball State, Buffalo, Central Michigan, and Ohio followed behind with seven honorees each.
 
The Academic All-MAC honor is awarded to a student-athlete who has excelled in both athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests in that sport.
 
2025 Volleyball Academic All-MAC Honorees
Akron (4)
Martina Villani, Junior Criminology and Criminal Justice, 3.861
Gabby Brissett, Senior, Biology, 3.745

Vanessa Del Real, Junior, Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology, 3.81
Sarah Bettis, Junior, Biomedical Science, 3.363
 
Ball State (7)
Gwen Crull, Junior, Property Management, 3.959
Lindsey Green, Junior, Communication Studies, 4.000
Sophie Ledbetter, Sophomore, Pre-Nursing, 4.000
Elizabeth Tabeling, Sophomore, Pre-Nursing, 3.725
Carson Tyler, Sophomore, Sport Administration, 3.912
Riley Whitlock, Sophomore, Business Administration, 3.667
Camryn Wise, Junior, Computer Science, 3.723
 
Bowling Green (6)
Avery Anders, Sophomore, Marketing, 3.758
Jessica Andrews, Senior, Marketing, 4.000

Sydnie Hernandez, Sophomore, Human Development & Family Science, 3.757
Isabelle Laube, Redshirt Junior, Marketing, 3.863
Edyta Waclawczyk, Redshirt Sophomore, International Business, 4.000
Helen Wilford, Redshirt Sophomore, Biology, 4.000
 
Buffalo (7)
Luli Arcucci, Sophomore, Business Administration, 3.489
Ava Kanj, Sophomore, Biochemistry, 3.908
Keira Kleidon, Sophomore, Exploratory, 3.862
Emma Converse, Sophomore, Business Administration, 3.667
Manoela Forlin, Junior, Graphic Design, 3.590
Eve Adams, Sophomore, Early Childhood Education, 3.857
Chloe Brown, Junior, Health and Human Services, 3.751
 
Central Michigan (7)
Izzy Swiercz, Sophomore, Undeclared, 3.66
Natalia Rejment, Senior, General Management, 3.15
Alina Anderson, Senior, Accounting 3.68
Abby Olin, Senior, Mechanical Engineering + Spanish, 3.98
Grace Thomas, Sophomore, Undeclared, 3.65
Brooklyn Conner, Senior, Environmental Science, 3.65

Hannah Langton, Sophomore, Communication Sciences & Disorders, 3.81
 
Eastern Michigan (8)

Kendal Bonney, Senior, Elem Early Child Teach & Learn, 3.83
Ella Grasson, Senior, Sport Management, 3.87
Anna Guard, Sophomore, Biology, 3.61

Taeley Mahler, Sophomore, Comm Sciences & Disorders, 3.70
Surabhi Srinivasan, Junior, Mathematics-Secondary Education, 3.80
Wrigley Takats, Sophomore, Exploratory, 3.84

Ella Voorhees, Senior, Environ Sci & Society Interdis, 3.59
Hatteras Welker, Sophomore, Biology, 3.89
 
Kent State (5)
Greta Bolognini, Senior, Business Management, 3.66
Hailey Brenner, Sophomore, Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology, 3.45
Lesley Furuta, Sophomore, General Business, 3.87
Mackenzie McGuire, Senior, Exercise Science, 3.51
Nadia Miller, Sophomore, Exercise Science, 3.28
 
Miami (8)
Ellie Hanson, Senior, Psychology/Sport Management, 3.68
Hayden Hicks, Senior, Psychology/Sport Management, 3.89

Raegan Lantz, Junior, Human Capital Management & Leadership, 3.76
Anna McClure, Redshirt Junior, Strategic Communication, 3.83

Lydia Michelin, Sophomore, Kinesiology/Premedical & Pre-Health Studies, 3.89
Kamryn Utley, Sophomore, Public Health/Healthcare Sales, 4.00

Gentry Warrick, Senior, Kinesiology/Premedical & Pre-Health Studies, 3.29
Chelsea Williams, Junior, Kinesiology, 3.86
 
Northern Illinois (6)
Kylie Schulze, Junior, Marketing, 3.81
Rylea Alvin, Sophomore, Psychology, 3.746
Emma McCartney, Sophomore, Biomedical Engineering, 3,709
Ava Grevengoed, Sophomore, Kinesiology, 3.515
Ella Strausberger, Sophomore, Marketing, 3.442
Alexa Hayes, Senior, Criminology, 3.389
 
Ohio (7)

Caroline Curran, Junior, Engineering Tech & MGMT, 3.852
Sierra Evans, Sophomore, Journalism News and Info., 3.457
Olivia Gardner, Junior, Exercise Physiology, 3.660
Lexi Grissett, Sophomore, Marketing, 4.000
Kendall Hickey, Junior, Communication Studies, 3.396

Bryn Janke, Sophomore, Accounting & Finance, 3.895

Darbi Ricketts, Sophomore, Exercise Physiology – Strength & Conditioning, 3.384
 
Toledo (5)
Anna Alford, Senior, Public Health Management, 3.415
Grace Freiberger, Sophomore, Recreational Therapy, 3.909
Olivia Heitkamp, Sophomore, Early Childhood Education, 3.501
Macy Medors, Senior, Recreational Therapy, 3.989
Sierra Pertzborn, Redshirt Sophomore, Nursing, 3.558     
 
Western Michigan (8)
Reeghan Boyer, Senior, Finance, 3.93
Mary Clare Brusek, Senior, Exercise Science, 3.77
Elana Erickson, Sophomore, Special Education, 3.79
Amanda Glanton, Senior, Mechanical Engineering, 3.84
Maddie Kmetz, R-Junior, Exercise Science, 3.73
Annalise Patchett, Sophomore, Exercise Science, 4.00
Carley Piercefield, Sophomore, Elementary Education, 3.48
Leah Richmond, R-Freshman, Exercise Science, 4.00

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball program led the Mid-American Conference with eight Academic All-MAC student-athletes as the conference announced 78 student-athletes earned the honor for the 2025 season Monday, Dec.15.
 
Earning the award for EMU is Kendal Bonney, Ella Grasson, Anna Guard (Burlington, Ky./St. Henry District), Taeley Mahler (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead), Surabhi Srinivasan (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Jerome), Wrigley Takats, Ella Voorhees, and Hatteras Welker.
 
Along with Eastern’s eight honorees, Miami and Western Michigan tied for the lead in the league with eight student-athletes honored. Ball State, Buffalo, Central Michigan, and Ohio followed behind with seven honorees each. 
 
The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport.  
 
The honor marks the second for Bonney and Srinivasan, while Grasson, Guard, Mahler, Takats, Voorhees, and Welker earned the accolade for the first time in their respective careers.
 
Eastern’s eight honorees are its most since it also placed eight on the list in the 2022 campaign, and mark most in the Head Coach Kevin Foeman era (2023-present). Eight honorees are the most in one season for the Eagles since at least 2005.
 
2025 Volleyball Academic All-MAC Honorees
 
Eastern Michigan (8)
Kendal Bonney, Senior, Elem Early Child Teach & Learn, 3.83 
Ella Grasson, Senior, Sport Management, 3.87 
Anna Guard, Sophomore, Biology, 3.61 
Taeley Mahler, Sophomore, Comm Sciences & Disorders, 3.70 
Surabhi Srinivasan, Junior, Mathematics-Secondary Education, 3.80 
Wrigley Takats, Sophomore, Exploratory, 3.84 
Ella Voorhees, Senior, Environ Sci & Society Interdis, 3.59 
Hatteras Welker, Sophomore, Biology, 3.89 
 
Akron (4)
Martina Villani, Junior Criminology and Criminal Justice, 3.861
Gabby Brissett, Senior, Biology, 3.745

Vanessa Del Real, Junior, Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology, 3.81
Sarah Bettis, Junior, Biomedical Science, 3.363
 
Ball State (7)
Gwen Crull, Junior, Property Management, 3.959
Lindsey Green, Junior, Communication Studies, 4.000
Sophie Ledbetter, Sophomore, Pre-Nursing, 4.000
Elizabeth Tabeling, Sophomore, Pre-Nursing, 3.725
Carson Tyler, Sophomore, Sport Administration, 3.912
Riley Whitlock, Sophomore, Business Administration, 3.667
Camryn Wise, Junior, Computer Science, 3.723
 
Bowling Green (6)
Avery Anders, Sophomore, Marketing, 3.758
Jessica Andrews, Senior, Marketing, 4.000

Sydnie Hernandez, Sophomore, Human Development & Family Science, 3.757
Isabelle Laube, Redshirt Junior, Marketing, 3.863
Edyta Waclawczyk, Redshirt Sophomore, International Business, 4.000
Helen Wilford, Redshirt Sophomore, Biology, 4.000
 
Buffalo (7)
Luli Arcucci, Sophomore, Business Administration, 3.489
Ava Kanj, Sophomore, Biochemistry, 3.908
Keira Kleidon, Sophomore, Exploratory, 3.862
Emma Converse, Sophomore, Business Administration, 3.667
Manoela Forlin, Junior, Graphic Design, 3.590
Eve Adams, Sophomore, Early Childhood Education, 3.857
Chloe Brown, Junior, Health and Human Services, 3.751
 
Central Michigan (7)
Izzy Swiercz, Sophomore, Undeclared, 3.66
Natalia Rejment, Senior, General Management, 3.15
Alina Anderson, Senior, Accounting 3.68
Abby Olin, Senior, Mechanical Engineering + Spanish, 3.98
Grace Thomas, Sophomore, Undeclared, 3.65
Brooklyn Conner, Senior, Environmental Science, 3.65

Hannah Langton, Sophomore, Communication Sciences & Disorders, 3.81
  
Kent State (5)
Greta Bolognini, Senior, Business Management, 3.66
Hailey Brenner, Sophomore, Sport, Exercise and Performance Psychology, 3.45
Lesley Furuta, Sophomore, General Business, 3.87
Mackenzie McGuire, Senior, Exercise Science, 3.51
Nadia Miller, Sophomore, Exercise Science, 3.28
 
Miami (8)
Ellie Hanson, Senior, Psychology/Sport Management, 3.68 
Hayden Hicks, Senior, Psychology/Sport Management, 3.89 

Raegan Lantz, Junior, Human Capital Management & Leadership, 3.76 
Anna McClure, Redshirt Junior, Strategic Communication, 3.83 

Lydia Michelin, Sophomore, Kinesiology/Premedical & Pre-Health Studies, 3.89 
Kamryn Utley, Sophomore, Public Health/Healthcare Sales, 4.00 

Gentry Warrick, Senior, Kinesiology/Premedical & Pre-Health Studies, 3.29 
Chelsea Williams, Junior, Kinesiology, 3.86 
 
Northern Illinois (6)
Kylie Schulze, Junior, Marketing, 3.81
Rylea Alvin, Sophomore, Psychology, 3.746
Emma McCartney, Sophomore, Biomedical Engineering, 3,709
Ava Grevengoed, Sophomore, Kinesiology, 3.515
Ella Strausberger, Sophomore, Marketing, 3.442
Alexa Hayes, Senior, Criminology, 3.389
 
Ohio (7)

Caroline Curran, Junior, Engineering Tech & MGMT, 3.852
Sierra Evans, Sophomore, Journalism News and Info., 3.457
Olivia Gardner, Junior, Exercise Physiology, 3.660
Lexi Grissett, Sophomore, Marketing, 4.000
Kendall Hickey, Junior, Communication Studies, 3.396

Bryn Janke, Sophomore, Accounting & Finance, 3.895

Darbi Ricketts, Sophomore, Exercise Physiology – Strength & Conditioning, 3.384
 
Toledo (5)
Anna Alford, Senior, Public Health Management, 3.415
Grace Freiberger, Sophomore, Recreational Therapy, 3.909
Olivia Heitkamp, Sophomore, Early Childhood Education, 3.501
Macy Medors, Senior, Recreational Therapy, 3.989
Sierra Pertzborn, Redshirt Sophomore, Nursing, 3.558      
 
Western Michigan (8)
Reeghan Boyer, Senior, Finance, 3.93
Mary Clare Brusek, Senior, Exercise Science, 3.77
Elana Erickson, Sophomore, Special Education, 3.79
Amanda Glanton, Senior, Mechanical Engineering, 3.84
Maddie Kmetz, R-Junior, Exercise Science, 3.73
Annalise Patchett, Sophomore, Exercise Science, 4.00
Carley Piercefield, Sophomore, Elementary Education, 3.48
Leah Richmond, R-Freshman, Exercise Science, 4.00
 
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Nebraska 2 vs Texas A&M 3 – 22-25, 22-25, 25-20, 37-35, 13-15

Coach Dani Busboom Kelly said after the loss that she was proud of what her team gave today and left the game with no regrets. “We maxed out with what we had today.” We read into that statement that some players were still sick, and we assume she was also talking about the injuries that happened to Campbell Flynn earlier in the week and the one that happened during warm-ups to Allie Sczech.

Even with all those challenges it is baffling to wrap our heads around what just happened. Texas A&M is a highly talented team that played nearly perfect volleyball inside the Devaney Center for three hours. The odds of such a feat are so low that we still cannot believe it happened.

The Aggies scouted and prepared for Nebraska with such precision. They seemed to know what shot Andi Jackson was going to hit before Jackson was even set, maybe they did. Maybe Nebraska was too predictable. Perhaps the shots the go for kills all year long because we are above the opposing block were the same over and over again.

Nebraska was blocked 30 times in this match and that stat doesn’t seem to capture the impact those blocks had on the match. Jackson was held to a .045 hitting percentage with six kills and five errors. Jackson doesn’t make that many errors, but she did tonight because of the Aggie block and perhaps a timing and connection issue with setter Bergen Reilly.

The Nebraska serve receive was also tested and if we are giving out grades got a C+. The serves were fast, flat and well located and Nebraska passers had real trouble. Laney Choboy was the target of many challenging serves. She passes some but also made five reception errors which means that ball wasn’t playable, point Aggies.

We enter the off season; we do it reluctantly and in a state of shock.