Statesmen at No. 5 to Begin Campaign
Oskaloosa–A youthful William Penn men’s volleyball team opens up the season as a national contender as the NAIA released its preseason top-15 poll Wednesday.
WPU, which was 24-7 last year (14-4 Heart), starts 2025 at No. 5 with 186 points. The Statesmen have now been ranked for 20 consecutive polls.
Arguably the best league in the NAIA, the Heart of America Athletic Conference boasts seven teams in the rating. Grand View leads the way at No. 3, while Park (No. 6), Missouri Valley (No. 10), and Missouri Baptist (No. 11) are also ranked. Mount Mercy (16th) and Heart newcomer Dordt (25th) are in the receiving votes section as well.
Defending national runner-up The Master’s (Calif.) leads the country with 227 points and six first-place votes. Saint Xavier (Ill.), with four first-place nods, is second, while Grand View is third. Defending national champion Georgetown (Ky.) is fourth with the final three first-place ballots.
The Statesmen start the season Friday by traveling to Davenport to face Governors State (Ill.) in non-conference play at 5 p.m.
NAIA Men’s Volleyball Preseason Rating — January 22, 2025
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. The Master’s (Calif.) (6)
2. Saint Xavier (Ill.) (4)
3. Grand View
4. Georgetown (Ky.) (3)
5. William Penn
6. Park (Mo.)
7. Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.)
8. Westcliff (Calif.)
9. Lawrence Tech (Mich.)
10. Missouri Valley
11. Missouri Baptist
12. Reinhardt (Ga.)
13. Cornerstone (Mich.)
14. Campbellsville (Ky.)
15. Indiana Tech
Receiving Votes: Mount Mercy 52, Lourdes (Ohio) 51, Hope International (Calif.) 50, UC Merced (Calif.) 39, OUAZ (Ariz.) 39, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 21, Webber International (Fla.) 13, Arizona Christian 5, Cumberland (Tenn.) 3, Dordt 2.
