WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Marietta College volleyball team is set and ready to compete in 2026 in a very tough Ohio Athletic Conference. The Preseason Coaches Poll was released Monday (August 24) afternoon by the league office and the Pioneers were placed third in the poll.
 
During the 2025 regular season, the Pioneers posted a 17-8 overall record and tied Otterbein University for first place in the conference with a 7-1 mark. Marietta reached the OAC Tournament championship match against the Cardinals, falling 3-1 to conclude their campaign.
 
"We are excited that the other coaches in the conference see us in the top three in the OAC," said Head Coach Kristy Anderson. "Marietta College volleyball is always striving to be the best that we can be and I am excited to see where that mindset and drive takes us this season!"
 
Otterbein received eight first place votes and collected 64 points on the way to receiving first place in the poll. Muskingum University received the other first place vote and a total of 54 points to claim second place.  The Pioneers totaled 46 points to put them in the third slot. Ohio Northern received 48 points and placed fourth in the rankings. Baldwin Wallace rounded out the top five with 37 points.
 
Mount Union (32 points) was sixth with Heidelberg (27 points) following at seventh. Wilmington sits in eighth (12 points) and Capital rounds out the poll in last place with 9 points.
 
The Pioneers kick off their season on September 1 with a 7 p.m. road match against Denison University. They return for their home opener on September 8 to face Hiram College, also slated for a 7 p.m. start.
 
The complete poll is below.  First place votes are in parenthesis.
 
OAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll:
1. Otterbein — 64 points (8)
2. Muskingum — 54 (1)
3. Marietta — 46
4. Ohio Northern — 40
5. Baldwin Wallace — 37
6. Mount Union — 32
7. Heidelberg — 27
8. Wilmington — 12
9. Capital — 9