(KIWA Staff Photo)Sioux City, Iowa — Northwestern College earned 120 points and was picked first in the 2026 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Preseason Coaches’ Women’s Volleyball Poll, receiving 10 of the league’s 12 first-place votes.
Concordia was selected second with 109 points and the final two first-place votes. Dakota Wesleyan followed in third with 96 points, Midland placed fourth with 93, and Dordt rounded out the top five at 80.
Northwestern enters the season as the defending GPAC regular-season and tournament champion. The Red Raiders were the 2025 NAIA National Runner-Up, while Concordia reached the Fab Four. Midland and Dakota Wesleyan also advanced to the Final Site in Sioux City.
The 47th Annual NAIA National Volleyball Championship is scheduled for December 2nd through 8th at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City. The NAIA Opening Round will be held Saturday, November 21st. The GPAC regular-season and postseason champions will receive automatic berths to the national tournament.
The 2026 GPAC season will feature 16 conference matches with 12 teams competing for the conference crown. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams in the preseason poll.
2026 GPAC Preseason Volleyball Poll
| Rank | Team | Points | 1st Place Votes |
| 1 | Northwestern | 120 | 10 |
| 2 | Concordia | 109 | 2 |
| 3 | Dakota Wesleyan | 96 | |
| 4 | Midland | 93 | |
| 5 | Dordt | 80 | |
| 6 | College of Saint Mary | 68 | |
| 7 | Morningside | 67 | |
| 8 | Mount Marty | 41 | |
| 9 | Briar Cliff | 40 | |
| 10 | Hastings | 33 | |
| 11 | Doane | 28 | |
| 12 | Waldorf | 17 |
