LEXINGTON, KY. - A pair of College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin women’s volleyball teams were featured in the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s preseason poll ahead of the 2026 season. Illinois Wesleyan University enters the season ranked No. 8 nationally, while Carthage College received votes in the poll, the organization announced Thursday.

This marks the second straight season the Titans will open the season inside the AVCA Preseason Top 25 and their highest preseason ranking in program history. Illinois Wesleyan enters the season as the reigning CCIW champion following a standout 2025 campaign in which the Titans were ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation. The Titans saw their season end with a five-set loss to Calvin University in the regional championship.

Carthage received votes in the poll following a runner-up finish at the 2025 CCIW Volleyball Tournament. The Firebirds fell to Illinois Wesleyan in the championship match but enter the 2026 season looking to return to the top of the CCIW standings while making a postseason push.

The season kicks off Tuesday, Sept. 1, with Illinois Wesleyan hosting Wartburg College and Aurora University, while Carthage takes on Lakeland University on the road.

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The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) was founded in 1946 and currently services nine member institutions including Augustana College (Rock Island, Ill.), Carroll University (Waukesha, Wis.), Carthage College (Kenosha, Wis.), Elmhurst University (Elmhurst, Ill.), Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, Ill.), Millikin University (Decatur, Ill.), North Central College (Naperville, Ill.), North Park University (Chicago, Ill.) and Wheaton College (Wheaton, Ill.).