APPLETON, Wis. — The Lawrence University volleyball team was picked to finish second in the annual Midwest Conference Preseason Coaches Poll.

The Vikings received 75 points and three first-place votes in the poll, finishing just four points behind defending conference champion Cornell College.

Lawrence enters the 2026 season coming off a strong 2025 campaign that saw the Vikings finish 23-11 overall and 6-2 in Midwest Conference play before advancing to the championship match of the MWC Tournament.

The Vikings return three All-MWC selections from last season's squad, led by MWC Newcomer of the Year and first-team selection Audrey Weier. Weier finished her debut season with 334 kills while hitting .317 and led Lawrence with 85 blocks.

Fellow first-team selection Ally Corrente returns to direct the Vikings' attack after handing out 1,238 assists last season, while second-team selection Aria Wessel returns after anchoring the Lawrence defense with a team-high 512 digs.

Lawrence also welcomes back Margaret Hahnke, a former First-Team All-MWC selection and MWC Newcomer of the Year who missed conference play last season due to injury. Before being sidelined, Hahnke recorded 278 kills in 69 sets for an average of 4.03 kills per set while adding 224 digs and 36 service aces.

The Vikings bring back additional experience in Alayna Geiser and Chania Tinch. Geiser recorded 178 kills, 295 digs and 34 service aces last season, while Tinch added 150 kills and 50 blocks.

Cornell was picked to repeat as conference champion with 79 points and seven first-place votes. Lawrence followed with 75 points and the remaining three first-place votes.

Grinnell was picked third with 59 points, while Monmouth and Illinois College tied for fourth with 54 points apiece. Conference newcomer Luther was sixth with 39 points, followed by Ripon with 36, Lake Forest with 32, Knox with 14 and Beloit with eight.

The Vikings open the 2026 season Sept. 1 when they travel to Fond du Lac, Wis., to take on Marian University at 7 p.m.

2026 MWC Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Cornell (7 first-place votes) — 79 points

2. Lawrence (3) — 75 points

3. Grinnell — 59 points
   T4. Monmouth — 54 points
   T4. Illinois College — 54 points

4. Luther — 39 points

5. Ripon — 36 points

6. Lake Forest — 32 points

7. Knox — 14 points

8. Beloit — 8 points