LEXINGTON, Ky. - The University of Northwestern Volleyball team is once again beginning a new season with national attention. In the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Preseason Poll, the Eagles received 63 votes, putting them 31st in the country. This is the ninth time in 10 years that UNW has received votes and/or been ranked in the top 25 preseason poll, with the exception being the 2021 Covid spring season, in which Beth Wilmeth's squad eventually finished as a top 25 team.

The full AVCA poll can be viewed here.

Northwestern, who is the highest-ranked Minnesota team in the poll, returns plenty of talent in 2025 despite losing All-Americans Abby Glanzer (Brandon, S.D./Sioux Falls Christian) and Ari Schmidt (Albany, Minn./Holdingford). Middle Blocker Marley Aune (New Brighton, Minn./Avail Academy), a 2023 AVCA All-American, is the NCAA Division III active leader in career blocks (394) and will lead the way. Her 1.32 blocks per set as a junior led the UMAC and were seventh in all of NCAA DIII. The Eagles will face five teams from the preseason top 25 this season and an additional three teams that received votes in the poll.

UNW will begin its season on Friday, August 29th at 7:00 PM inside the Ericksen Center against Bethel as part of the Kathryne Pals Legacy Invitational.