KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The NAIA announces the preseason women’s volleyball top 25 poll, with the Tigers checking in at 16th.
Dakota Wesleyan’s ranking is reflective of their current roster construction and strong end to the season in 2025, when the team made a run to the National Championship final site in Sioux City, Iowa, defeating Park (Mo.) and The Master’s (Calif.) in the process. The Tigers return back-to-back GPAC Setter-of-the-Year Kayleigh Hybertson and Co-Defender-of-the-Year Lizzie Tyler alongside backline contributor Carlee Laubach in their senior seasons.
As Lindsay Wilber heads into her 13th season leading the program, she will rely on her senior leadership and a handful of All-Conference talent to push for another historic season. The Tigers were voted third in the Great Plains Athletic Conference preseason poll, sitting behind two top-three nationally-ranked teams in Northwestern (Iowa) and Concordia (Neb.).
The preseason NAIA Women’s Volleyball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll reflects a shift at the top, with Northwestern (Iowa) climbing to No. 1 after finishing the 2025 season as national runner-up. Indiana Wesleyan dropped from No. 1 to No. 4 after winning the team’s third consecutive title and graduating several players. Eastern Oregon and Concordia (Neb.) also continued their ascent, moving up to Nos. 2 and 3, respectively, after strong seasons. The movement at the top underscores the depth of contenders in this year’s national landscape. See the full release from the NAIA here.
DWU Volleyball begins its season in San Antonio, Texas, where they will compete in the OLLU Invitational. See the full 2026 schedule here.