Contact: Alex Mielcarz, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, ajmielcarz@noctrl.edu
AVCA POLL
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Jan. 5, 2026) – After posting a 15-7 record last season, the North Central men's volleyball program begins this season at No. 18 in the AVCA Division III Men's Volleyball Preseason Poll.
The Cardinals were steady members of the top-20 last season, missing just two polls throughout the winter and spring. After opening at No. 18 last year (as it does this year), North Central reached as high as No. 14 in the nation, holding that spot for the last four polls of the season.
In coach Kevin Kustura's first year, the Cardinals qualified for the CCIW tournament but fell to Loras College in the semifinal.
Springfield College will begin the year at No. 1 while the reigning national champion Southern Virginia checks in at No. 4.
The defending College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Carthage College comes at No. 2 after a 23-4 campaign that saw them defeat Augustana College and Loras College in straight sets in the conference tournament semifinals and finals, respectively, before losing to Springfield in the NCAA regional championship game.
Loras, the conference runner-up, begins the season at No. 14.
North Central was tabbed as the No. 3 team in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Preseason poll this weekend as well, trailing Carthage (No. 1) and Loras (No. 2).
The Cardinal schedule boasts five ranked opponents in the preseason poll, including Carthage, Loras, No. 9 California Lutheran and No. 10 Aurora University.
Kustura's squad has a joint practice on Thursday this week at Aurora University and a scrimmage at home in Gregory Arena on Friday against Saint Xavier (NAIA) before finally beginning the season on the road against the Illinois Institute of Technology next Thursday.
