KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has released its first national poll of the 2025 women's volleyball season, and Aquinas College has made history. The Saints earned the No. 15 spot in the rankings with 277 points, marking the highest preseason national ranking in program history.
After finishing at the top of the WHAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, Aquinas continues to turn heads on the national stage. The Saints are coming off a standout 2024 season, finishing with a 40-3 overall record and a perfect 18-0 mark in WHAC play. AQ swept both the WHAC regular season and tournament titles, earning the right to host a first-round match in the NAIA National Tournament. Head Coach Ryan Campbell states, "It's an honor for our program to be recognized at this level. While preseason rankings are more of a reflection of last year's success, it's exciting to see Aquinas volleyball at our highest preseason ranking in school history. Our focus now is on the hard work ahead and continuing to build on that standard this season."
The Saints are one of just two WHAC teams to crack the national top 25, joining fellow powerhouse Marian University. Meanwhile, Indiana Tech and Cornerstone are both receiving votes, signaling strong depth within the conference.
Aquinas is also gearing up for a tough non-conference schedule that includes a matchup with No. 8 IU Kokomo. The Saints will also take on Grace and Rio Grande, both of which are receiving national votes.
When speaking with two of the team captains Lauren Chioini and Bella Hommes, both shared their excitement and confidence heading into the new season:
Lauren Chioini:
"We were very blessed throughout our season last year and worked hard every day to achieve this ranking. We're super excited for this upcoming season and eager to compete! I have full confidence in this group of women to perform at a high level, and I wouldn't want to play on the court with anyone else this year."
Bella Hommes:
"It's super exciting to see that all of our hard work from last year has paid off and is being carried into this season. Being ranked both nationally and No. 1 in the WHAC is a testament to how great we will be as a team. We have some new faces and a great group of girls that are eager to have another successful year. Go Saints!"
At the top of the poll, Indiana Wesleyan claims the No. 1 spot with 540 points and 19 first-place votes. Bellevue (Neb.) follows in second with 522 points, and Corban rounds out the top three with 493.
Aquinas will kick off its season on August 22, facing Bryan at the Onset Tournament in Indiana. Be sure to mark your calendars for two key match ups, first against receiving-votes Cornerstone on September 12 and receiving-votes Indiana Tech on September 20.
