INDIANAPOLIS – The Milwaukee volleyball team has been picked to finish fourth in the 2026 Horizon League Volleyball Preseason Poll, as voted on by the league's head coaches.

The Panthers received 76 points in the poll, finishing just behind third-place IU Indy (91 points). Wright State was selected as the preseason favorite with 117 points, followed by Northern Kentucky with 114.

Milwaukee posted an 11-7 Horizon League record last season and tied for third in the final regular-season standings before earning the fifth seed following a three-way tiebreaker. The Panthers fell to fourth-seeded IU Indianapolis in three sets in the quarterfinal round of the Horizon League Championship.

Sophomore Josie Noble returns after earning both Horizon League All-Freshman Team and All-League Second Team honors in 2025. Milwaukee also welcomes back starters Bella Lipski, Kati Goba and Ella Schuetz, while Annie Eschenbach is expected to be a key contributor after a strong first season with the Panthers. Junior Milica Tomic returns as one of Milwaukee's two setters in its 6-2 offense.

Milwaukee opens the 2026 campaign this Friday at the Drake Tournament, beginning with a 3 p.m. matchup against DePaul. The Panthers will also take on South Dakota and host Drake on Aug. 29.

The home schedule opens Saturday, Sept. 19, against Western Michigan before Horizon League play begins with a pair of matches at Northern Kentucky on Sept. 25-26.

2026 Horizon League Volleyball Preseason Poll

Place / Team	Points
1. Wright State	117
2. Northern Kentucky	114
3. IU Indy	91
4. Milwaukee	76
5. Green Bay	73
6. Youngstown State	68
7. Northern Illinois	57
8. Cleveland State	48
9. Oakland	38
10. Robert Morris	26
11. Purdue Fort Wayne	18