WALESKA, Ga.— The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Women's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll dropped Tuesday afternoon, and according to their peers, the Montreat College Cavaliers are anticipated to finish the year seventh in the league standings.
 
Overall, the Cavs accrued 100 points in poll, 26 fewer than Tennessee Wesleyan University and nine more than Columbia College. The University of Pikeville secured the top spot with six first-place votes and 172 points.
 
Last season, Montreat registered a 17-12 (14-8 AAC) record en route to clinching the No. 5 seed in the AAC Tournament. The fifth seed marked the program's best postseason seeding since the 2013-14 season. Ultimately, the Cavaliers' campaign came to an end with a defeat to Pikeville in the conference quarterfinals.
 
The AAC Women's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll was voted on by the head coaches of institutions in the league. Teams garnered 14 points for a first-place vote, 13 for second place, 12 for third place and so on until all 14 programs were ranked. The standings were then organized by most points received to least points received.
 
Montreat opens its 2025-26 slate on Friday, Oct. 24 at Faulkner University. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. in Montgomery, Ala.
 
2025-26 AAC Women's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll
School (First-Place Votes) – Total Voting Points
1. Pikeville (6) – 172
2. Milligan (4) – 166
3. Johnson (2) – 155
4. Reinhardt – 140
5. Bryan (1) – 127
6. Tennessee Wesleyan – 126
7. Montreat – 100
8. Columbia – 91
9. Spartanburg Methodist – 67
10. Truett McConnell – 65
T11. Bluefield – 44
T11. Brenau – 44
13. Union Commonwealth – 35
14. Columbia International – 33