Webster pulled in 43 total points in the poll, receiving three first-place nods. Sophomore Lauren Borik stood out during her first collegiate season, leading the Gorloks with 316 kills on her way to earning Second Team All-Conference honors. Borik will be counted to take on more with the graduation of three key All-Conference players. Head Coach Merry Graf also returns junior middle hitter Kylie Burke, who will guard the net. Senior setter Emma Larson will run the attack after finishing second on the team in assists. The big question for the Gorloks will be in the back row, where two-time SLIAC Defensive Player of the Year, Kristen Farrah departs after two record setting seasons. Kyra Gensel and Tori Cichelero will have the opportunity to fill that role. Among the newcomers joining the Gorloks that could have an impact are prep All-Conference rightside hitters Alexis Wolf and Katie Eskildson and outside hitter Marisa Lanzotti.

Defending SLIAC Tournament Champions Westminster College also picked up 43 total points and three first-place votes. The Blue Jays return five starters and ten players from last year's team that captured the program's first conference title since 1998. The duo of Natalie Needy and Eryka Wanyonyi will be the focal point of the offense. Needy, a senior middle, tallied 166 kills and 43 total blocks last season while earning Second Team All-Conference honors. Wanyonyi, the SLIAC Newcomer of the Year, recorded 291 kills and 345 digs during her freshman campaign. Erica Schrader, a junior libero, paced the team with 448 digs last season. Gretchen Durbala will be given a chance to fill in as the setter after Teresa Becker's graduation while Emma Geier and Heather Ripperger could work into the rotation as well.

The Panthers recorded 43 total points and two first-place votes in the poll. They were 22-9 overall and 17-1 last season, marking the 9th time in 10 seasons they picked up at least a share of the regular season SLIAC title. Head Coach Tom Ackerman brings back 15 players including SLIAC Player of the Year Anna Finch. Finch is a force on both offense (272 kills and a .417 hitting percentage) and defense (78 total blocks). Jasmin Smith, a senior outside hitter, shined in her first season with the team last year; totaling 268 kills. The Panthers welcome in Hannah Estes, a junior outside hitter who could fit into the rotation.

Spalding University finished 4th in the poll, picking up 27 total points. Last season the Golden Eagles finished 11-19 overall and 9-9 in the SLIAC under head coach Cheneta Robinson, a 10-game improvement from the previous season. The Golden Eagles will rely on the trio of Cassie Jones, Sarah Richards, and Mya Summers. Jones, a senior middle, was second on the team in kills and first in blocks while finishing second in the conference in hitting percentage. Richards, a junior defensive specialist, led the team with 421 digs. The offense will be run by the experienced Summers, a three-year starter, who finished second in the SLIAC in assists last season.

Finishing 5th in the poll was Blackburn College with 24 total points. The Beavers were 9-17 overall and 8-10 in the SLIAC under first year head coach Morgan Hauser. They return five starters and nine players including middle Lucy Magnussen. Magnussen, a junior, led the team with 254 kills and a .231 hitting percentage. Sophomore Amanda Swedberg will once again anchor the defense after totaling 442 digs as a freshman. Kaitlyn Wiegand, who already ranks in the top in Blackburn history in both kills and blocks, will look to cap off her career on a high note. Top Newcomers include prep All-Conference players Emilie King and Kyleigh Marty and Madalynn Lutke, a district champion in high school.

Iowa Wesleyan University finished 6th in the poll, totaling 20 points. Head Coach Aleksandra Popovic returns just three starters from last year's squad that went 10-19 overall and 6-12 in the SLIAC. Those three players are juniors Skylar Garcille and Jaden Streeter and senior Jenna Murphy. Murphy has been one of the more consistent liberos in the league since her arrival, recording over 500 digs in each of the last three seasons. Garcille hit .188 in limited duty last year while Streeter finished with 166 digs. Newcomers include freshmen Malie DaMate and Emily Gehring and a senior transfer Lezar'Rhea Burnside.

The Griffins picked up 17 total points, placing 7th in the poll. Head Coach Ryan LeGrand brings back three starters and seven players from last year's team that went 6-23 overall. A young team overall, they will look to a trio of seniors to guide them on the court this season. Rae Andrews, a senior, recorded 220 kills and 268 digs last season while Olivia Tallo averaged 1.74 kills and 1.57 digs per set last season with setter Abby Grumich leading the team with 418 assists. Kelly Herr, a junior, is expected to have a larger role with the graduation of the team's top two middles; Maura Rabun and Emma Siez. New faces on the roster include Jadyn Fitzgerald, Hannah Gallagher, and Ella Werner.

Rounding out the preseason poll is Eureka College with 7 total points. The Red Devils were 5-24 overall last season and return just two starters. Corinne DeBoard, a junior middle, is back after totaling 104 kills last season as is junior libero Megan Masching, who ranked second on the team in digs. Jordyn Fox showed signs of promise as a freshman last season and could play an important role this year. Top newcomers are Faith Catour, Katelin Peters, and Regan Reed.