(KIWA Staff Photo)
Sioux City, Iowa – Northwestern College totaled 120 points and was picked first in the 2026 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Preseason Coaches’ Women’s Volleyball Poll. The Red Raiders garnered ten of the twelve first place votes in the preseason ballot.
Concordia was picked second in the preseason poll with 109 points and the final two first place votes. Dakota Wesleyan, with 96 points, was picked third. Midland came in fourth with 93 points, with Dordt rounding out the top five with 80 points.
Northwestern was the GPAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions last season. Northwestern was the NAIA National Runner-Up in 2025, with Concordia advancing to the Fab Four. Midland and Dakota Wesleyan made the Final Site in Sioux City.
The 47th Annual NAIA National Volleyball Championship is set for December 2-8 at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa. The NAIA Opening Round will be Saturday, November 21. The GPAC regular and postseason champions will earn automatic berths to the NAIA Women’s Volleyball Championship.
The 2026 GPAC volleyball season will consist of 16 conference matches with 12 teams competing for the conference crown. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team 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 |
