Emory University, defending UAA champion Washington University, and Carnegie Mellon University are all ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA ) preseason poll.
Emory will open the 2018 season as the fifth-ranked Division III program. A year ago, Emory made its 22nd consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament, where it advanced to the quarterfinals of the championship. The Eagles closed out the campaign with an overall record of 30-7 and a No. 5 national ranking.
The Washington University in St. Louis volleyball team was listed No. 10 in the AVCA preseason poll. The Bears return 13 letterwinners from the 2017 UAA champion squad that finished the year 24-10 and earned the Association's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Carnegie Mellon University enters the season ranked 12th after posting a 30-win season a year ago. In 2017, the Tartans climbed to the highest AVCA national ranking in program history, when they held the sixth spot for two weeks. Carnegie Mellon appeared in its second consecutive NCAA tournament the 30 wins marked the second most for a single-season in program history.