GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) announced on Tuesday, Aug. 26 the results of 2025 volleyball preseason poll, as voted on by the league coaches.
Just like they have in the last two GLIAC Tournament championship matches, Grand Valley State and Ferris State battled for the top spot in the 2025 preseason rankings. The Lakers were selected first, totaling 98 points with eight first-place votes. The defending regular season and tournament champion Bulldogs finished second, receiving 92 points and three first-place votes.
GVSU is coming off their best season in over a decade, posting a 28-4 overall record, finishing second in the GLIAC and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Four seniors are gone from that team, but four All-GLIAC selections return this fall to lead the Lakers.
FSU capped off a memorable 2024 season with a 34-1 overall record, winning the Midwest Regional Championship and reaching the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. The Bulldogs lost a strong senior class, which included National Player of the Year Olivia Henneman-Dallape and four-year starting setter Kaylee Maat, and 16 of the 22-player roster are underclassmen.
Wayne State was voted third in the preseason poll, earning 76 points. The Warriors won 11 conference matches a year ago and welcome back three All-GLIAC performers for 2025 -- Kayla Giroux, Kayla Dulgar and Kendyl Andrews.
Northern Michigan (68, 4th) and Michigan Tech (67, 5th) were separated by one point in the vote. The Wildcats lost five seniors from their 2024 squad that won 13 GLIAC matches while the Huskies, under new head coach Cindy Pindral, get back three All-GLIAC honorees.
Parkside polled 6th, collecting 59 points. The Rangers will be headlined by 2024 GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year Natalie Harris.
Davenport (42), Purdue Northwest (38) and Saginaw Valley State (34) ranked 7-8-9, respectively, with only eight points separating the three teams.
Lake Superior State, who will be guided by first-year head coach Eric Snyder, and Roosevelt, in its second year at the Division II level, rounded out the preseason poll. '
2025 GLIAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| 1. |
Grand Valley State |
98 (8) |
| 2. |
Ferris State |
92 (3) |
| 3. |
Wayne State |
76 |
| 4. |
Northern Michigan |
68 |
| 5. |
Michigan Tech |
67 |
| 6. |
Parkside |
59 |
| 7. |
Davenport |
42 |
| 8. |
Purdue Northwest |
38 |
| 9. |
Saginaw Valley State |
34 |
| 10. |
Lake Superior State |
18 |
| 11. |
Roosevelt |
13 |
