CLEVELAND – The Mid-American Conference released its 2026 Volleyball Preseason All-MAC Team on Monday, with Western Michigan redshirt sophomore setter Leah Richmond representing the Brown and Gold. The conference also released its preseason coaches poll, with the Broncos picked to finish third.   

An All-MAC First Team and All-MAC Freshman Team selection last year, Richmond led the MAC and ranked 50th in NCAA Division I at 9.93 assists/set, while finishing second in the league and 16th in the nation with a total of 1,241 helpers. She also played a key part in WMU leading the nation in total digs, ranking third on the Broncos and eighth in the conference with 414 digs (3.31/set). Richmond racked up double-digit digs 26 times to set a single-season program record with 26 double-doubles.

Coming off of a second-place finish and third straight appearance in the MAC Tournament Championship Match, Western Michigan was picked to finish third in the preseason coaches poll. Reigning MAC Tournament champion Toledo edged out 2025 regular season champion Ball State as the preseason favorite, with the Rockets picking up seven first-place votes and the Cardinals garnering three. After WMU in third, Bowling Green and Ohio tied for fourth, with the Bobcats picking up the lone remaining first-place vote. Toledo (6) and Ball State (5) split the votes to be crowned MAC Tournament Champion in November. 

The Broncos open up the 2026 campaign on Friday night as they welcome Green Bay to University Arena at 6 pm. Single-game tickets for Western Michigan volleyball are on sale now at wmubroncos.com/tickets. 

2026 MAC Volleyball Coaches Poll
First Place Votes in ()
1. Toledo (7) - 92 pts.
2. Ball State (3) - 91 pts.
3. Western Michigan - 78 pts. 
T-4. Bowling Green - 71 pts.
T-4. Ohio (1) - 71 pts.
6. Miami - 59 pts.
7. Akron - 41 pts. 
8. Buffalo - 35 pts. 
9. Eastern Michigan - 31 pts.
10. Central Michigan - 21 pts.
11. Kent State – 15 pts.

Tournament Champion: Toledo (6), Ball State (5)