Women's Volleyball August 10, 2026 Claire Gay, UMW Sports Information

Bulldogs Picked Sixth in Frontier Conference Women’s Volleyball Coaches’ Preseason Poll

DILLON, Mont. – The Montana Western volleyball program was tabbed sixth in the 2026 Frontier Conference Women's Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Poll, the league office announced Monday.

Reigning FC Volleyball champion Providence was picked first with 118 points. Bellevue (113), Montana Tech (97), Dakota State (87), and Carroll (80) round out the top five UMW's 65 points landed them sixth.

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams. First place is worth 11 points, second place is worth 10 points, third place is worth nine points, and so on to the last place with one point.

The league will be awarded two automatic bids to the NAIA Women's Volleyball National Tournament. The regular-season champion will receive the first automatic bid. The second berth will be awarded to the Frontier Conference Tournament Champion. In the event the regular-season champion is the tournament champion, then the second berth will be awarded to the tournament's runner-up.

2026 Frontier Conference Women's Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Poll
1	Providence (Mont.) (9)	118
2	Bellevue (Neb.) (3)	113
3	Montana Tech	97
4	Dakota State (S.D.)	87
5	Carroll (Mont.)	80
6	Montana Western	65
7	MSU-Northern	63
8	Valley City State (N.D.)	51
9	Dickinson State (N.D.)	49
10	Bismarck State (N.D.)	33
11	Mayville State (N.D.)	20
12	Rocky Mountain (Mont.)	16

2025 SEASON IN REVIEW
Montana Western finished 13-17 overall in 2025, including 11-11 in Frontier play. The mark earned the Red and Black the eight-seed in the 2025 FC Volleyball tournament. They were held off by the regular season and eventual tournament champion Argos in the first round.

2026 ROSTER NOTES
The Bulldogs are returning 14 from the 2025 squad after losing four seniors.

2025 Second Team All-Conference member Kennedy Lingenfelter is back for her sophomore season. The middle blocker led the team in kills (247), hitting percentage (.270), and blocks (102.0) in her initial campaign with UMW.

Also returning is senior middle blocker Jaiden Perez, who was sidelined for the second half of 2025 due to injury.

Dani Brown, Madisyn Frazier, Morgyn Harrison, and Sophie Worden are all back for their senior season. Brown averaged 2.08 kills per set and posted 32.0 blocks in '25. Frazier (3.07) and Harrison (3.06) ranked second and third on the team in digs per set, respectively. Worden posted 3.74 assists per set.

Taylor Ketchum (team-high 4.47 digs per set), Savana Warburton (2.57 d/s), Olivia Rosborough (1.61 k/s), and Maxine Hoagland (1.38 k/s) are set to start their junior campaign.

Joining Lingenfelter for their sophomore season are Averi Look (2.11 k/s), Antonia Duncan (1.34 k/s), Nora Dominick (1.03 k/s), and Jayda Ward (third on the team in service aces (20).

The Bulldogs bolstered their 2026 squad with four freshman, Clea Rapson (L/DS), Jaynie Jespersen (L/DS), Maggie Schneiter (S/DS), and Lilia Kahalepo (OH).

COACHES CORNER
Head Coach Katie Lovett returns for her eighth year at the helm. She is joined by assistant coaches Madison Richtmyer (fourth season), Payton Spoja (first season), and Jazi Smith (first season).

LOOKING AHEAD
The Bulldogs kick off 2026 Friday (8/14) in San Antonio at the Our Lady of the Lake preseason tournament. They will face off against hosts OLLU (8/14), Dakota Wesleyan (8/14), Campbellsville (8/15), and Saint Francis (8/15).

For complete coverage of UMW Volleyball, be sure to follow us on social media at @umw_volleyball (Instagram), @UMW_Volleyball (X), and @Montana Western Athletics (Facebook) or visit our official website at UMWBulldogs.com.

#GOBULLDOGS!

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Players Mentioned

#9 Dani Brown: OH; 6' 0"; Senior

#11 Nora Dominick: MB/Pin; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#12 Antonia Duncan: OH/RS; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#4 Madisyn Frazier: L/DS; 5' 5"; Senior

#20 Morgyn Harrison: L/DS; 5' 6"; Redshirt Senior

#10 Maxine Hoagland: RS/MB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior

#7 Taylor Ketchum: L/DS; 5' 4"; Junior

#22 Kennedy Lingenfelter: MB; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#17 Averi Look: OH; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#13 Jaiden Perez: MB; 6' 0"; Senior

#16 Olivia Rosborough: MB; 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior

#2 Savana Warburton: OH; 5' 10"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#9 Dani Brown
: 6' 0"; Senior
: OH

#11 Nora Dominick
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: MB/Pin

#12 Antonia Duncan
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: OH/RS

#4 Madisyn Frazier
: 5' 5"; Senior
: L/DS

#20 Morgyn Harrison
: 5' 6"; Redshirt Senior
: L/DS

#10 Maxine Hoagland
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Junior
: RS/MB

#7 Taylor Ketchum
: 5' 4"; Junior
: L/DS

#22 Kennedy Lingenfelter
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: MB

#17 Averi Look
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: OH

#13 Jaiden Perez
: 6' 0"; Senior
: MB

#16 Olivia Rosborough
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior
: MB

#2 Savana Warburton
: 5' 10"; Junior
: OH