WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Otterbein, under the direction of 19th-year Head Coach Monica Wright, has been picked by the league coaches to win the Ohio Athletic Conference volleyball title in 2026.

The Cardinals collected 64 points and eight of the nine available first-place votes. Muskingum landed at No. 2 with 54 points and one first-place vote, while Marietta rounded out the top three with 46 points. Ohio Northern followed in fourth with 40 points, and Baldwin Wallace claimed fifth with 37 points. Head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting.

Otterbein enters 2026 as the reigning OAC Tournament Champion, having claimed the title for the fourth consecutive season and the seventh time in program history. The Cardinals also clinched a share of the regular-season title, finishing conference play with a 7-1 record (24-5 overall).

The Cardinals will open the season at home on September 1 at 7:00 p.m. against Wittenberg University.

2026 OAC Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll
Otterbein 64 pts (8)
Muskingum 54 pts (1)
Marietta 46 pts
Ohio Northern 40 pts
Baldwin Wallace 37 pts
Mount Union 32 pts
Heidelberg 27 pts
Wilmington 12 pts
Capital 9 pts.