Three CCIW men’s volleyball teams earn spots in AVCA preseason poll

The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) will begin the 2026 men’s volleyball season with three of its teams featured in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Men’s Volleyball Preseason Poll, which was released on Monday.

Carthage, last season's league champion, is ranked No. 2 nationally with 533 points. The Firebirds are also the CCIW preseason favorite and are second only to Springfield in the national poll as they aim to defend their conference title.

Loras College appears at No. 14 in the preseason rankings with 133 points. North Central is also included, holding the No. 18 spot with 78 points.

This strong showing highlights the competitive presence of CCIW programs at a national level as the new season approaches.