INDIANAPOLIS – Missouri-St. Louis was voted to lead the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) women’s volleyball teams in the preseason coaches’ poll presented by Primo Designs, the conference office announced Thursday.
The preseason poll is selected by the league’s head coaches, who, per GLVC Bylaws, are not permitted to vote for their own team.
No. 1 Missouri-St. Louis
- Received 11 first-place votes and 166 total points.
- Ranked No. 24 in AVCA Preseason Poll.
- Won first GLVC Championship in program history last season before postseason run ended in NCAA Midwest Regional quarterfinals.
- Head coach Ryan Young enters 17th season with the program after earning GLVC Coach of the Year award last season.
- Two accoladed student-athletes return:
- Junior right side hitter Alayna Santel returns after earning AVCA All-America First Team, All-GLVC First Team, and AVCA and D2CCA Midwest Region First Team honors.
- Senior defensive specialist/libero Skylar Weaver returns after earning AVCA All-America Third Team, AVCA and D2CCA All-Midwest Region First Team, and GLVC Libero of the Year honors.
No. 2 Rockhurst
- Received two first-place votes and 153 total points.
- Ended GLVC Tournament in the semifinals last season before postseason run ended in NCAA Midwest Regional semifinals.
- Head coach Trent Jones enters his seventh season with the team.
- Junior middle hitter Delaney Hope returns after earning AVCA All-America Honorable Mention, AVCA and D2CCA All-Midwest Region Honorable Mention, and All-GLVC First Team honors.
No. 3 Indianapolis
- Received one first-place vote and 145 total points.
- Ended GLVC Tournament in the semifinals last season before advancing to the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship.
- Head coach Haley Case enters her second season with the program.
- Sophomore setter Carly Fonda returns after earning 2025 GLVC Freshman of the Year and All-GLVC First Team honors.
No. 4 Quincy
- Received 128 total points.
- Placed second in GLVC Tournament last season before postseason run ended in NCAA Midwest Regional quarterfinals.
- Head coach Mark Jones enters his eighth season with the program.
2026 GLVC WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL
| Place |
School |
Points (first-place votes) |
| 1. |
Missouri – St. Louis |
166 (11) |
| 2. |
Rockhurst |
153 (2) |
| 3. |
Indianapolis |
145 (1) |
| 4. |
Quincy |
128 |
| 5. |
Maryville |
119 |
| 6. |
Lewis |
116 |
| 7. |
Truman State |
92 |
| 8. |
Drury |
88 |
| 9. |
Illinois Springfield |
71 |
| 10. |
Missouri S&T |
60 |
| 11. |
McKendree |
55 |
| 12. |
Southwest Baptist |
36 |
| 13. |
Upper Iowa |
31 |
| 14. |
William Jewell |
14 |