MILWAUKEE – The Lakeland University women's volleyball team was picked to finish fourth in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference's 2026 preseason poll of league coaches and sports information directors.
The Muskies received 262 points in the poll to rank fourth of 13 teams. Lakeland is in the middle of a close bunch of three teams in spots 3-5, just behind St. Norbert College in third with 273 points and ahead of Concordia University Wisconsin in fifth with 250 points.
Two-time defending NACC champion Edgewood University leads the poll with 329 points and 21 of 26 first-place votes. Aurora University was second with 305 points and four first-place markers, while St. Norbert received the remaining first-place vote.
Lakeland finished 16-14 overall last year and posted a 10-3 mark in NACC play. The Muskies tied Concordia Wisconsin for fourth in the conference and as the No. 4 seed hosted the Falcons in the NACC Tournament quarterfinals, falling to CUW in three sets.
The NACC's regular season standings determine the eight teams to qualify for the conference tournament, with the tournament champion again receiving the league's automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. Lakeland has qualified for the conference tournament 14 of the last 15 years, finishing at least .500 in conference every year but one in that stretch.
Lakeland returns an experienced team primed for a run at the conference championship, with five starters plus its libero from last year's team including first team all-NACC outside hitter
Samya Hughes (
So.-Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.), second team all-conference setter
Sydney Gay (
Jr.-Rice Lake, Wis.) and outside hitter
Maleigha Kovalaske (
Jr.-Ripon, Wis.) plus honorable mention all-NACC middle blocker
Faith Baker (
Jr.-Verona, Ill.). The Muskies open their 2026 season this Tuesday, Sept. 1 at home against Carthage College at 7 p.m.
2026 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Preseason Poll
1. Edgewood (21 first-place votes), 329 points
2. Aurora (4), 305 points
3. St. Norbert (1), 273
4. Lakeland, 262
5. Concordia Wisconsin, 250
6. Illinois Tech, 186
7. Wisconsin Lutheran, 183
8. Benedictine, 160
9. MSOE, 141
10. Marian, 89
11. Concordia Chicago, 79
12. Rockford, 66
13. Dominican, 43
