KANSAS CITY, Mo. — McPherson College remained in the No. 5 spot in the latest edition of the NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Poll, the national office announced Wednesday. This is the second consecutive poll in which the Bulldogs sit at No. 5, while it is the third poll this year in which they rank in the Top 10.
TOP FIVE CAPSULES
1. Eastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon has been nearly untouchable through the first month of the season, racing out to a perfect 15-0 record and a 4-0 mark in Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) play. The Mountaineers have won all 15 matches, including 12 straight-set victories, while posting an impressive .331 team hitting percentage. Senior outside hitter Keira Vaughn has led a balanced attack with 181 season kills (3.77 kills per set) and a .399 hitting percentage, while Brooke Womack (2.92 kills per set) and Akylah Kaino (2.53 kills per set) provide additional firepower. Eastern Oregon’s offense is directed by senior setter Kate Stidham, who averages 6.86 assists per set. The Mountaineers defense keeps things going with strong contributions from libero Jaycee Villastrigo and a front-row unit led by Mylie Mills (.96 blocks per set) and Jule Whitley (1.29 blocks per set). With solid wins over conference foes Southern Oregon, Oregon Tech, Evergreen (Wash.), and Northwest (Wash.), Eastern Oregon continues deeper into CCC play.
2. Concordia (Neb.)
Concordia (Neb.) enters the heart of conference play with an 11-2 overall record, a perfect 2-0 mark in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) action and a five-match winning streak. The Bulldogs have relied on a balanced offensive attack led by junior outside hitter Shandy Faalii, who paces the team with 167 kills (3.63 per set), while freshman Samantha Kimbell has added 83 season kills in a strong debut season. Concordia’s offense has been orchestrated by setters Myla Emery (287 season assists) and Ella Brueggemann (202 season assists), helping the Bulldogs earn quality wins over teams such as Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), Ottawa (Kan.), Saint Francis (Ind.) and Midland (Neb.). Concordia will dive deeper into GPAC play after opening with straight-set victories over Midland and a four-set win against College of Saint Mary.
3. Northwestern (Iowa)
Northwestern (Iowa) has compiled a 12-1 record, a perfect 2-0 mark in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), marking a nine-match winning streak. The Red Raiders are powered by senior outside hitter Stella Winterfeld, who leads the team with 205 season kills and averages 4.56 kills per set, while setter Nyah Potthoff directs the offense with 475 season assists and an impressive 10.33 assists per set. Northwestern has received key contributions from Maddy Sampson, Halie Kapelke and Aubree Shields and owns notable victories over Oklahoma Wesleyan, Ottawa (Kan.), Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and Morningside (Iowa). Since suffering its lone loss of the season to undefeated Eastern Oregon, the Red Raiders have responded with nine consecutive wins.
4. College of Idaho
The College of Idaho is only the second unbeaten team in the Top 25, next to conference opponent Eastern Oregon. The Yotes have compiled an 11-0 record and a perfect 4-0 mark in Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) play. The Yotes have shown resilience throughout their undefeated run, earning key conference victories over Oregon Tech and Southern Oregon while winning four matches that went at least four sets. Senior outside hitter Jessica Stires leads a balanced offensive attack with 83 kills, while Alexa Wheeler (78 kills) and Keylee Wilson (68 kills) have provided steady production at the net. Junior setter Shaynee McWilliams has paced the offense with 356 assists and a .384 hitting percentage, while the Yotes’ depth and defensive consistency have helped fuel their unbeaten start. With 11 consecutive victories and an upcoming matchup against fellow undefeated Eastern Oregon looming at the end of the month, the College of Idaho has made its way into the Top 5, moving up five spots from the last poll.
5. McPherson (Kan.)
McPherson enters Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) play carrying an 11-2 record and a nine-match winning streak. The Bulldogs have been fueled by a balanced offense that features five players averaging at least two kills per set, led by senior middle blocker Enya Fierens, who has totaled 126 season kills while hitting an impressive .405. Lily Gray (93 season kills), Tori Buss (94 season kills), Havana Olander (87 season kills) and freshman Miriam Maino (84 season kills) have added depth to a potent attack, while setters Tabor Scanlon and Roxana Varela Parra have combined for 477 assists this season. Since opening the season with a pair of losses against nationally recognized opponents, McPherson has rattled off nine consecutive victories, including wins over Doane (Neb.), Loyola (La.), Central Methodist (Mo.) and Texas Wesleyan.
OTHER NOTABLE MOVES 6-25
- Morningside (Iowa) – After entering the poll for the first time this season in the previous poll, the Mustangs continue their move up as they were one of two teams to move up six spots this week and settled into the Top 15.
- Viterbo (Wis.) – The V-Hawks also moved up six spots in the poll from No. 24 to 18. Over the last two weeks, the team has gone on a seven-match win streak, adding to the two wins they had the previous week.
- Bellevue (Neb.) – The Bruins are bouncing back from some early losses in the season and boast a five-match win streak as they dive into Frontier Conference Play.
- Grace (Ind.) – The Lancers were on a 12-match win streak prior to the team’s third loss of the season, coming at the hands of No. 13 Taylor (Ind.), which was the teams only five set match this season.
- Montana Tech – Montana Tech moves into the Top 25 with a 10-match win streak and an undefeated Frontier Conference slate.
FULL TOP 25 RANKINGS
| RANK |
LAST TIME |
INSTITUTION [FIRST-PLACE VOTES] |
RECORD |
| 1 |
1 |
Eastern Oregon [18] |
15-0 |
| 2 |
3 |
Concordia (Neb.) |
11-2 |
| 3 |
2 |
Northwestern (Iowa) |
12-1 |
| 4 |
9 |
College of Idaho |
11-0 |
| 5 |
5 |
McPherson (Kan.) |
11-2 |
| 6 |
4 |
Corban (Ore.) |
10-3 |
| 7 |
6 |
Indiana Wesleyan |
10-4 |
| 8 |
7 |
Providence (Mont.) |
10-2 |
| 9 |
T-12 |
Aquinas (Mich.) |
15-1 |
| 10 |
8 |
Missouri Baptist |
10-2 |
| 11 |
T-12 |
Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) |
9-1 |
| 12 |
11 |
Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) |
12-2 |
| 13 |
14 |
Taylor (Ind.) |
15-4 |
| 14 |
20 |
Morningside (Iowa) |
13-3 |
| 15 |
16 |
Midland (Neb.) |
10-4 |
| 16 |
19 |
Bellevue (Neb.) |
8-2 |
| 17 |
18 |
Southern Oregon |
10-4 |
| 18 |
24 |
Viterbo (Wis.) |
12-5 |
| 19 |
15 |
Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) |
14-6 |
| 20 |
17 |
The Master’s (Calif.) |
8-5 |
| 21 |
10 |
Cumberlands (Ky.) |
13-3 |
| 22 |
21 |
St. Thomas (Fla.) |
8-5 |
| 23 |
RV |
Grace (Ind.) |
15-3 |
| 24 |
RV |
Montana Tech |
10-1 |
| 25 |
22 |
IU Kokomo (Ind.) |
9-6 |
Receiving Votes: Bushnell (Ore.), College of Saint Mary (Neb.), Cornerstone (Mich.), Cumberland (Tenn.), Dordt (Iowa), Fisk (Tenn.), Nelson (Texas), Southeastern (Fla.), Spring Arbor (Mich.).
—KCAC—