CORVALLIS, Ore. – After capturing both the Cascade Collegiate Conference regular-season title and the CCC Tournament Championship a season ago, Eastern Oregon Volleyball has been picked to finish first in the 2026 CCC Preseason Coaches' Poll. 

The Mountaineers collected 118 points and nine first-place votes to claim the top spot after a remarkable 2025 campaign that ended with a 32-3 overall record and an 18-2 mark in conference play. Eastern opened the season with a dominant 20-0 start and spent five of six regular-season polls ranked No. 1 in the NAIA. The Mounties advanced to the NAIA National Semifinals before falling in a hard fought five-set battle to three-time defending national champion Indiana Wesleyan University, ultimately finishing the year ranked No. 3 in the nation. 

Eastern returns a strong core from last year's squad, including CCC Setter of the Year Kate Stidham and First Team All-CCC and NAIA All-Tournament selections Keira Vaughn and Brooke Womack. The Mountaineers welcome back 12 players overall, including four starters, while adding six newcomers through three freshmen and three transfers. 

Head coach Kaki McLean Moorehead enters her 20th season leading the program after earning both CCC Coach of the Year and AVCA West Region Coach of the Year honors in 2025. McLean owns an impressive 406-120 career record at Eastern Oregon, highlighted by nine CCC regular-season championships and two conference tournament titles. 

Corban was selected second in the preseason poll with 106 points and one first-place vote after posting a 27-6 overall record and finishing 17-3 in CCC play last season. Southern Oregon and College of Idaho tied for third, with the Raiders also receiving one first-place vote. 

The Mountaineers open the 2026 season next weekend at the Phoenix Classic in Lebanon, Tennessee, before traveling to Fullerton, California, for the Summer Slam the following weekend. Eastern wraps up its preseason schedule at the I-84 Classic in Caldwell, Idaho, during the final weekend of August. Along the way, the Mounties are slated to face RV Columbia International, No. 16 The Master's University, and No. 2 Northwestern (Iowa), with rankings based on the 2025 NAIA postseason poll. 

2026 CCC Volleyball Preseason Poll
 

Team (First Place Votes)	Points
1. Eastern Oregon University (0)	118
2. Corban University (1)	106
T-3. Southern Oregon University (1)	92
T-3. College of Idaho	92
5. Lewis-Clark State College	74
6. Bushnell University	69
T-7. Northwest University	52
T-7. Oregon Tech	52
9. Walla Walla University	28
10. The Evergreen State College	25
11. Warner Pacific University	14