BRIGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has announced the results of its 2026 Volleyball Coaches' Poll. The Trine University women's volleyball team was selected fourth in the poll.
 
The Thunder earned 43 points in the poll. Perennial national powers, Calvin University and Hope College, took the top two spots in the poll. The Knights are the MIAA favorites, claiming 63 points and seven first-place votes. The Dutch are second with 58 points and a pair of first-place nods. Albion College also ranked ahead of the Thunder with 50 points. Saint Mary's College, The University of Olivet, Alma College, Kalamazoo College, and Adrian College completed the poll.
 
The Thunder open the season with two trips to multi team events. Trine opens the season with a trip to the Windy City for the University of Chicago's Rosalie Resch Invitational. The following weekend they travel to Columbus, Ohio for four games in the Buckeye State. The home opener is set for September 15^th at 6:30 p.m. when Manchester University comes to town. The Thunder then travel to northeast Ohio for the Oberlin Crimson and Gold Quad. The nonconference schedule wraps up with three road trips to Franklin, Rose-Hulman, and Bluffton. September 25^th brings an intriguing matchup to the Monument City, the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras will make the trip to play the Thunder.
 
MIAA play then begins with Hope coming to Angola on October 3^rd. The Thunder will participate in Calvin's Midwest Invitational on October 9-10. The schedule then alternates between road and home contests with Alma, Calvin, Adrian, Kalamazoo, and Albion. The final tournament of the year is set for October 31 at Anderson University. The regular season concludes with games against Olivet and Saint Mary's.
 
Trine returns Elli Baker to the outside of the offense. The sophomore led the Thunder with 230 kills as a freshman last year. Baker's versatility proved valuable as she was fifth on the team in digs and aces. Julia Maggio and Reese Steenwyk solidify the returning class of hitters for the Thunder. Cali Stevons returns as the Thunder's setter, Stevons split time with second team All-MIAA setter Anna Zellers last year and will serve as Trine's lone returner at the position. Libero Jordan Budzinski is also back for Trine, the senior was second in the MIAA with 147 digs in conference play last season.
 
Trine opens the season at the University of Chicago on September 4^th with games against Concordia Wisconsin and Earlham.