After Undefeated Season, Lindsey Wilson Tops NAIA Pre-Season Poll

  0 Braden Keith | August 15th, 2018 | College - Women's Indoor, NAIA, News

The NAIA has released its first 2018 pre-season coaches’ poll for women’s volleyball, and defending champions Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Kentucky have been named the national pre-season favorites.

Andy Cavins’ team had a perfect 35-0 season in 2017, which makes the team a perfect 7-for-7 in 30 win seasons in his tenure. The team was only pushed to 5 sets once during the season, and only had to play four-setters on three occasions in 2018. The team graduated 6 players from their championship roster, including 4 regular starters: setter Makenzie Montano, libero Caitlyn Tino, outside hitter Lauren Streets, and middle blocker Madison Molitor.

Lindsey Wilson received 11 out of 14 first-place votes in the poll, with the other 3 votes going to Dordt College in Iowa: the team that Lindsey Wilson defeated in last year’s championship game. Those 8 first-place votes were effectively the difference in the poll between the two schools, which were separated by a narrow 7-point margin.

2018 Women’s Volleyball Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 Poll – (Aug. 14)

RANK LAST WEEK SCHOOL [1st Place Votes] RECORD POINTS
1 1 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) [11] 35-0 371
2 2 Dordt (Iowa) [3] 34-8 364
3 4 Missouri Baptist 34-9 345
4 3 Viterbo (Wis.) 40-2 341
5 6 Park (Mo.) 32-4 328
6 5 Westmont (Calif.) 36-4 298
7 11 Northwestern (Iowa) 30-6 296
7 7 College of Idaho 28-7 296
9 10 Grand View (Iowa) 34-8 281
10 9 Hastings (Neb.) 28-3 277
11 13 Midland (Neb.) 21-11 248
12 14 Montana Tech 25-10 238
13 NR Southern Oregon 15-11 214
14 18 Columbia (Mo.) 34-8 205
15 12 Eastern Oregon 24-11 193
16 17 Cornerstone (Mich.) 28-8 181
17 20 Georgetown (Ky.) 22-6 175
18 RV Doane (Neb.) 17-12 167
19 8 Corban (Ore.) 27-9 156
20 24 Madonna (Mich.) 29-7 130
21 19 Bellevue (Neb.) 30-13 123
22 22 Indiana Wesleyan 29-12 104
23 RV Ottawa (Kan.) 30-13 103
24 21 Northwest (Wash.) 24-10 95
25 15 Jamestown (N.D.) 23-10 90

Dropped from the rankings: No. 23 Embry-Riddle (Ariz.), No. 25 Saint Xavier (Ill.), No. 16 Morningside (Iowa)

Others receiving votes: Embry-Riddle 88, Rocky Mountain (Mont.) 77, Campbellsville (Ky.) 44, Saint Xavier (Ill.) 37, Marian (Ind.) 27, Morningside 18, Kansas Wesleyan 11, William Woods (Mo.) 6, Reinhardt (Ga.) 5, Aquinas (Mich.) 4, Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) 4, Mobile (Ala.) 4, Trinity Christian (Ill.) 3, Vanguard (Calif.) 3, Lourdes (Ohio) 3

Poll Methodology

  • The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences, Association of Independent Institutions and Unaffiliated Groups.
  • The Top 25 is determined by a points system based on how each voter ranks the best teams. A team receives 30 points for each first-place vote, 29 for second place and so on through the list.
  • The highest and lowest ranking for each team (a non-rating is considered a low rating) is removed and the team’s ranking will be recalculated with an additional point added to each team for every ballot (including discounted ballots) that the teams appear on.
  • Teams that receive only one point in the ballot are not considered “receiving votes”
  • The frequency of polls occurs bi-weekly. This policy was approved by the National Administrative Council (NAC) for the 2016-17 academic season. This change will allow raters the opportunity to consider a larger body of work in between rating periods.
  • For the complete rating calendar, click here.

Conference-by-Conference rankings:

American Midwest Conference

  1. Missouri Baptist (10-2 / 34-9)
  2. Park (Mo.) (11-1 / 32-4)
  3. Columbia (Mo.) (11-1 / 34-8)
  4. William Woods (Mo.) (9-3 / 26-9)
  5. Lyon (Ark.) (8-4 / 18-16)
  6. Lindenwood-Belleville (Ill.) (7-5 / 16-21)
  7. Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) (6-6 / 10-13)
  8. Stephens (Mo.) (4-8 / 4-20)
  9. Central Baptist (Ark.) (3-9 / 11-20)
  10. Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) (3-9 / 5-13)
  11. St. Louis Pharmacy (Mo.) (2-10 / 8-17)
  12. Williams Baptist (Ark.) (2-10 / 9-25)
  13. Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) (2-10 / 5-25)

Appalachian Athletic Conference

  1. Reinhardt (Ga.) (00-0 / 0-0)
  2. Union (Ky.) (0-0 / 0-0)
  3. Point (Ga.) (0-0 / 0-0)
  4. Montreat (N.C.) (0-0 / 0-0)
  5. Bluefield (Va.) (0-0 / 0-0)
  6. Milligan (Tenn.) (0-0 / 0-0)
  7. Allen (S.C.) (0-0 / 0-0)
  8. St. Andrews (N.C.) (0-0 / 0-0)
  9. Bryan (Tenn.) (0-0 / 0-0)
  10. Tennessee Wesleyan (0-0 / 0-0)
  11. Brenau (Ga.) (0-0 / 0-0)
  12. Truett-McConnell (Ga.) (0-0 / 0-0)
  13. Columbia (S.C.) (0-0 / 0-0)

California Pacific Conference

  1. Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) (0-0 / 0-0)
  2. Antelope Valley (Calif.) (0-0 / 0-0)
  3. UC Merced (0-0 / 0-0)
  4. La Sierra (Calif.) (0-0 / 0-0)
  5. Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.) (0-0 / 0-0)
  6. Pacific Union (Calif.) (0-0 / 0-0)
  7. Providence Christian (Calif.) (0-0 / 0-0)
  8. Simpson (Calif.) (0-0 / 0-0)
  9. Marymount California (0-0 / 0-0)

Cascade Collegiate Conference

  1. College of Idaho (15-5 / 28-7)
  2. Southern Oregon (12-8 / 15-11)
  3. Eastern Oregon (15-5 / 24-11)
  4. Corban (Ore.) (17-3 / 27-9)
  5. Northwest (Wash.) (15-5 / 24-10)

Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (Division II)

  1. Saint Xavier (Ill.) (16-2 / 36-6)
  2. Trinity Christian (Ill.) (16-1 / 27-13)
  3. Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) (14-3 / 26-12)
  4. Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) (12-6 / 15-16)
  5. Indiana South Bend (Ind.) (11-6 / 14-16)
  6. St. Francis (Ill.) (10-7 / 18-22)
  7. St. Ambrose (Iowa) (11-7 / 15-16)
  8. Roosevelt (Ill.) (7-11 / 12-18)
  9. Trinity International (Ill.) (6-12 / 16-19)
  10. Judson (Ill.) (5-13 / 18-16)
  11. Robert Morris (Ill.) (4-14 / 8-18)
  12. Governors State (Ill.) (2-15 / 15-21)
  13. Calumet (Ind.) (0-17 / 3-28)

Crossroads League

  1. Indiana Wesleyan (15-3 / 29-12)
  2. Marian (Ind.) (16-2 / 28-8)
  3. Saint Francis (Ind.) (10-8 / 14-21)
  4. Grace (Ind.) (0-0 / 0-0)
  5. Taylor (Ind.) (0-0 / 0-0)
  6. Huntington (Ind.) (0-0 / 0-0)
  7. Bethel (Ind.) (0-0 / 0-0)
  8. Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) (0-0 / 0-0)
  9. Goshen (Ind.) (0-0 / 0-0)
  10. Spring Arbor (Mich.) (0-0 / 0-0)

Frontier Conference

  1. Montana Tech (10-2 / 25-10)
  2. Rocky Mountain (Mont.) (9-3 / 23-11)
  3. Carroll (Mont.) (8-4 / 16-12)
  4. Providence (Mont.) (6-6 / 21-10)
  5. Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) (5-7 / 10-14)
  6. Montana State-Northern (3-9 / 9-18)
  7. Montana Western (1-11 / 9-17)

Golden State Athletic Conference

  1. Westmont (Calif.) (14-0 / 36-4)
  2. Vanguard (Calif.) (10-4 / 18-11)
  3. Menlo (Calif.) (8-6 / 22-10)
  4. Hope International (Calif.) (8-6 / 17-19)
  5. The Master’s (Calif.) (6-8 / 11-17)
  6. Arizona Christian (4-10 / 13-15)
  7. William Jessup (Calif.) (3-11 / 18-16)
  8. San Diego Christian (Calif.) (3-11 / 10-17)
  9. Life Pacific (Calif.) (0-0 / 23-14)

Great Plains Athletic Conference

  1. Dordt (Iowa) (14-2 / 34-8)
  2. Northwestern (Iowa) (14-2 / 30-6)
  3. Hastings (Neb.) (14-2 / 28-3)
  4. Midland (Neb.) (11-5 / 21-11)
  5. Doane (Neb.) (9-7 / 17-12)
  6. Jamestown (N.D.) (14-2 / 23-10)
  7. Morningside (Iowa) (10-6 / 20-14)
  8. Concordia (Neb.) (3-13 / 9-19)
  9. Briar Cliff (Iowa) (8-8 / 18-9)
  10. College of Saint Mary (Neb.) (1-15 / 8-19)
  11. Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) (3-13 / 16-18)

Gulf Coast Athletic Conference

  1. Xavier (La.) (12-0 / 23-3)
  2. Dillard (La.) (9-3 / 21-19)
  3. Tougaloo (Miss.) (8-4 / 20-11)
  4. Southern-New Orleans (La.) (5-7 / 7-20)
  5. Edward Waters (Fla.) (5-7 / 13-13)
  6. Talladega (Ala.) (3-9 / 12-19)
  7. Philander Smith (Ark.) (0-12 / 6-20)
  8. Rust (Miss.) (0-0 / 0-20)

Heart of America Athletic Conference

  1. Grand View (Iowa) (19-0 / 34-8)
  2. Central Methodist (Mo.) (14-5 / 23-13)
  3. Benedictine (Kan.) (12-7 / 21-9)
  4. MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) (15-4 / 24-10)
  5. Baker (Kan.) (6-13 / 13-19)
  6. Evangel (Mo.) (7-12 / 14-25)
  7. Peru State (Neb.) (10-9 / 13-20)
  8. Missouri Valley (15-4 / 33-11)
  9. Clarke (Iowa) (13-6 / 27-9)
  10. Graceland (Iowa) (6-13 / 13-18)
  11. Culver-Stockton (Mo.) (2-17 / 9-24)
  12. Mount Mercy (Iowa) (8-11 / 13-17)
  13. William Penn (Iowa) (3-16 / 12-25)

Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

  1. Ottawa (Kan.) (19-3 / 30-13)
  2. Kansas Wesleyan (19-3 / 26-10)
  3. McPherson (Kan.) (15-7 / 22-12)
  4. Oklahoma Wesleyan (15-7 / 20-13)
  5. Tabor (Kan.) (17-5 / 28-12)
  6. Saint Mary (Kan.) (11-11 / 18-18)
  7. Sterling (Kan.) (9-13 / 14-19)
  8. Friends (Kan.) (8-14 / 9-27)

. ( / )

  1. Bethany (Kan.) (11-11 / 12-22)
  2. Avila (Mo.) (3-16 / 5-30)
  3. Southwestern (Kan.) (1-21 / 3-25)
  4. York (Neb.) (4-18 / 6-29)
  5. Bethel (Kan.) (3-19 / 6-23)

Mid-South Conference

  1. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (14-0 / 35-0)
  2. Georgetown (Ky.) (11-3 / 22-6)
  3. Campbellsville (Ky.) (10-4 / 31-10)
  4. Cumberlands (Ky.) (6-8 / 14-17)
  5. Cumberland (Tenn.) (5-9 / 15-15)
  6. Life (Ga.) (5-9 / 18-14)
  7. Shawnee State (Ohio) (3-11 / 9-24)
  8. Pikeville (Ky.) (2-12 / 10-21)

North Star Athletic Association

  1. Viterbo (Wis.) (16-0 / 40-2)
  2. Bellevue (Neb.) (11-5 / 30-13)
  3. Valley City State (N.D.) (9-7 / 15-13)
  4. Presentation (S.D.) (7-9 / 20-14)
  5. Dakota State (S.D.) (6-10 / 12-24)
  6. Dickinson State (N.D.) (4-12 / 6-19)
  7. Waldorf (Iowa) (2-14 / 5-27)
  8. Mayville State (N.D.) (3-13 / 7-26)

Red River Athletic Conference

  1. Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) (14-0 / 24-11)
  2. Huston-Tillotson (Texas) (11-3 / 21-9)
  3. St. Thomas (Texas) (9-5 / 15-14)
  4. Wiley (Texas) (9-5 / 15-10)
  5. Southwest (N.M.) (9-5 / 15-14)
  6. Jarvis Christian (Texas) (2-12 / 5-32)
  7. Texas College (0-14 / 0-21)

River States Conference

  1. IU Kokomo (Ind.) (16-0 / 30-10)
  2. Indiana East (Ind.) (12-4 / 21-19)
  3. Point Park (Pa.) (10-6 / 21-14)
  4. Asbury (Ky.) (12-4 / 20-8)
  5. Indiana Southeast (Ind.) (11-5 / 17-20)
  6. Brescia (Ky.) (13-3 / 22-14)
  7. WVU Tech (6-10 / 24-14)
  8. Rio Grande (Ohio) (2-14 / 5-29)
  9. Carlow (Pa.) (3-13 / 10-20)
  10. Cincinnati Christian (Ohio) (6-10 / 11-19)
  11. Ohio Christian (5-11 / 12-21)
  12. Midway (Ky.) (0-16 / 7-27)

Sooner Athletic Conference

  1. SAGU (Texas) (15-1 / 27-6)
  2. Oklahoma City (15-1 / 23-7)
  3. John Brown (Ark.) (13-3 / 26-7)
  4. Texas Wesleyan (13-3 / 27-7)
  5. Wayland Baptist (Texas) (9-7 / 17-12)
  6. Southwestern Christian (Okla.) (8-8 / 16-13)
  7. Mid-America Christian (Okla.) (6-10 / 10-16)
  8. Oklahoma Panhandle State (5-11 / 8-17)
  9. Central Christian (Kan.) (2-14 / 6-21)
  10. Langston (Okla.) (4-10 / 4-24)
  11. Science & Arts (Okla.) (1-15 / 2-22)
  12. Bacone (Okla.) (2-14 / 8-19)

Southern States Athletic Conference

  1. Mobile (Ala.) (14-0 / 40-4)
  2. William Carey (Miss.) (9-5 / 22-12)
  3. Faulkner (Ala.) (8-7 / 19-13)
  4. Martin Methodist (Tenn.) (9-5 / 21-12)
  5. Loyola (La.) (4-10 / 19-19)
  6. Bethel (Tenn.) (9-5 / 13-18)
  7. Middle Georgia State (5-9 / 10-16)
  8. Brewton-Parker (Ga.) (0-14 / 6-27)
  9. Florida College (0-0 / 0-0)

The Sun Conference

  1. Southeastern (Fla.) (12-4 / 23-8)
  2. Webber International (Fla.) (14-2 / 25-6)
  3. Coastal Georgia (9-7 / 11-14)
  4. St. Thomas (Fla.) (15-1 / 19-12)
  5. Warner (Fla.) (6-10 / 8-18)
  6. Keiser (Fla.) (6-10 / 9-21)
  7. Florida Memorial (6-10 / 10-16)
  8. Ave Maria (Fla.) (4-12 / 4-20)
  9. Johnson & Wales (Fla.) (0-16 / 7-23)

Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference

  1. Cornerstone (Mich.) (14-1 / 28-8)
  2. Madonna (Mich.) (14-0 / 29-7)
  3. Aquinas (Mich.) (9-6 / 19-13)
  4. Lourdes (Ohio) (10-5 / 22-14)
  5. University of Northwestern Ohi (6-8 / 22-16)
  6. Lawrence Tech (Mich.) (8-6 / 20-15)
  7. Siena Heights (Mich.) (10-5 / 25-7)
  8. Indiana Tech (5-9 / 14-21)

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About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and co-founder of VolleyMob.com. Braden's first foray into sports journalism came in 2010, when he launched a swimming website called The Swimmers' Circle. Two years later, he joined SwimSwam.com as a co-founder. Long huge fans of volleyball, when Braden and the SwimSwam partners sought an opportunity to …

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