1/3/26
Alliance, Ohio – In what may be the closest preseason poll in Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League history, defending champion Mount Union has been tabbed as the favorite for 2026, but only by the slimmest of margins.
The Purple Raiders collected 75 points and five first-place votes from the league’s 10 head coaches, edging Baldwin Wallace by a single point. The Yellow Jackets garnered 74 points and three first-place votes, setting up what promises to be another fierce battle between the league’s top programs.
Wittenberg rounded out the top three with 68 points and two first-place votes, keeping themselves firmly in the championship conversation. The poll marks the first time the MCVL has featured 10 teams after welcoming Spalding University as a new member.
Defending Champions Return Key Pieces
Mount Union head coach Matt Mihelic, the 2025 MCVL Coach of the Year, brings back a squad anchored by some of the league’s most decorated players. Senior middle blocker Michael Bowler returns after earning 2025 MCVL Offensive Player of the Year honors, while junior libero Peyton Koszelak brings back his Defensive Player of the Year credentials.
The Raiders went 20-9 overall last season with a perfect 8-0 mark in MCVL play before capturing the conference tournament title with a five-set thriller over Baldwin Wallace.
“We have a few key pieces coming back from our team last year and are eager to see how this group of underclassmen gel within our program on the floor,” Mihelic said. “We look forward to another great year of competition within the MCVL.”
Yellow Jackets Hungry for Redemption
Baldwin Wallace returns a loaded lineup featuring junior outside hitter Daniel Latham, a first-team All-MCVL selection in 2025, and senior outside hitter Colby Whiteside, who earned second-team honors. Head coach Kyle Mars has his team positioned to challenge for the title after last year’s heartbreaking five-set loss in the championship match.
The Yellow Jackets went 19-11 overall and 6-2 in league play, entering the tournament as the third seed before their runner-up finish.
Peterson’s Tigers Making Moves
Wittenberg’s third-place projection represents a vote of confidence in second-year head coach Jamie Peterson, who took over the program mid-season in 2025. Peterson, just the second female head coach in the 12-year history of the MCVL, guided the Tigers to a 7-2 conference record and a tournament appearance.
The Tigers return a veteran-laden roster highlighted by senior outside hitters Michael Yurk and Eli Halverson, both second-team All-MCVL selections, along with senior libero Jake Downs.
“We are looking forward to returning the majority of our starters from last season while adding some new pieces that will add depth to our gym,” Peterson said. “We have a large group of seniors that is hungry to go compete at a high level in the MCVL this season.”
Tournament Picture Takes Shape
The coaches project the same four teams that made the 2025 tournament will return to the postseason, with Trine holding down the fourth spot at 55 points. Head coach Will Dowdy, who led the Thunder to the league tournament title two years ago, returns a young, athletic squad despite a 5-3 league record last season.
Wabash was picked fifth (49 points), followed by Adrian (39), Calvin (31), Mount St. Joseph (30), Olivet (18), and newcomer Spalding (11).
Fresh Start Programs
Calvin brings in a new coaching staff led by Aaron Sagraves, who inherits a program with several All-MCVL honorable mention returners. Meanwhile, Spalding enters its inaugural season under head coach Eric Garvey with a roster composed entirely of freshmen.
“We are extremely excited to be joining the MCVL and putting our inaugural team on the floor,” Garvey said. “The 2026 Golden Eagles will be a young team of freshmen that are a close-knit group looking to establish a solid foundation and program identity.”
Conference play begins in early February when predictions give way to reality on the court. With just one point separating the top two teams in the preseason poll, the 2026 MCVL season promises to deliver drama from start to finish.