Eastern Michigan Athletics
MAC Releases 2026 Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll and All-MAC Team
8/24/2026 11:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Eagles picked to finish ninth in the regular season
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – The Mid-American Conference released its 2026 Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll and All-MAC Team Monday, Aug. 24.
The preseason coaches' poll slots Eastern Michigan University ninth in the conference while Toledo is predicted to win the regular-season title and MAC Tournament.
Following the reigning MAC Tournament champion Rockets is Ball State with 91 points and three first-place votes. The Western Michigan Broncos are slotted third, with 78 points.
Bowling Green and Ohio tied for fourth, each with 71 points, while the Bobcats earned one first-place vote. Miami is projected to finish sixth (59 points), Akron seventh (41 points), and Buffalo is picked to place eighth (35 points).
After the Eagles in ninth (31 points) come the Central Michigan Chippewas (10th, 21 points), while Kent State was picked to finish 11th with 15 points.
2026 MAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
First-Place Votes in Parentheses
1. Toledo – 92 pts. (7)
2. Ball State – 91 pts. (3)
3. Western Michigan – 78 pts.
T-4. Bowling Green – 71 pts.
T-4. Ohio – 71 pts. (1)
6. Miami – 59 pts.
7. Akron – 41 pts.
8. Buffalo – 35 pts.
9. Eastern Michigan – 31 pts.
10. Central Michigan – 21 pts.
11. Kent State – 15 pts.
Tournament Champion: Toledo (6), Ball State (5)
2026 Preseason All-MAC Team (alphabetical by school)
Delaney Gash, Outside Hitter, Akron
Lyndi Wolf, Middle Blocker, Akron
Gwen Crull, Middle Blocker, Ball State
Sophie Ledbetter, Libero, Ball State
Camryn Wise, Middle Blocker, Ball State
Avery Hobson, Outside Hitter, Bowling Green
Bailey Blair, Middle Blocker, Ohio
Emily Waddell, Middle Blocker, Ohio
Molly Creech, Outside Hitter, Miami
Jessica Costloe, Outside Hitter, Toledo
Grace Freiberger, Libero, Toledo
Olivia Heitkamo, Outside Hitter, Toledo
Sierra Pertzborn, Middle Blocker, Toledo
Leah Richmond, Setter, Western Michigan
Up Next
Eastern opens the season with a match against Northern Illinois in the USI Invitational Friday, Aug. 28. First serve is set for 10 a.m. in Evansville, Ind.
Follow Us
Stay connected with the Eagles by following @EMUVolleyball and @EMUAthletics on X for all of the latest EMU volleyball updates. Be sure to also follow the Green and White on Instagram, @EMU_Volleyball and @emuathletics.
The preseason coaches' poll slots Eastern Michigan University ninth in the conference while Toledo is predicted to win the regular-season title and MAC Tournament.
Following the reigning MAC Tournament champion Rockets is Ball State with 91 points and three first-place votes. The Western Michigan Broncos are slotted third, with 78 points.
Bowling Green and Ohio tied for fourth, each with 71 points, while the Bobcats earned one first-place vote. Miami is projected to finish sixth (59 points), Akron seventh (41 points), and Buffalo is picked to place eighth (35 points).
After the Eagles in ninth (31 points) come the Central Michigan Chippewas (10th, 21 points), while Kent State was picked to finish 11th with 15 points.
2026 MAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
First-Place Votes in Parentheses
1. Toledo – 92 pts. (7)
2. Ball State – 91 pts. (3)
3. Western Michigan – 78 pts.
T-4. Bowling Green – 71 pts.
T-4. Ohio – 71 pts. (1)
6. Miami – 59 pts.
7. Akron – 41 pts.
8. Buffalo – 35 pts.
9. Eastern Michigan – 31 pts.
10. Central Michigan – 21 pts.
11. Kent State – 15 pts.
Tournament Champion: Toledo (6), Ball State (5)
2026 Preseason All-MAC Team (alphabetical by school)
Delaney Gash, Outside Hitter, Akron
Lyndi Wolf, Middle Blocker, Akron
Gwen Crull, Middle Blocker, Ball State
Sophie Ledbetter, Libero, Ball State
Camryn Wise, Middle Blocker, Ball State
Avery Hobson, Outside Hitter, Bowling Green
Bailey Blair, Middle Blocker, Ohio
Emily Waddell, Middle Blocker, Ohio
Molly Creech, Outside Hitter, Miami
Jessica Costloe, Outside Hitter, Toledo
Grace Freiberger, Libero, Toledo
Olivia Heitkamo, Outside Hitter, Toledo
Sierra Pertzborn, Middle Blocker, Toledo
Leah Richmond, Setter, Western Michigan
Up Next
Eastern opens the season with a match against Northern Illinois in the USI Invitational Friday, Aug. 28. First serve is set for 10 a.m. in Evansville, Ind.
Follow Us
Stay connected with the Eagles by following @EMUVolleyball and @EMUAthletics on X for all of the latest EMU volleyball updates. Be sure to also follow the Green and White on Instagram, @EMU_Volleyball and @emuathletics.
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