ATHENS, Tenn. — The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) revealed its 2026 Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll on Tuesday afternoon, with the Montreat College women's basketball team picked to finish 11th in the league standings.

The Cavaliers received 75 points in the poll, finishing 28 points ahead of Truett McConnell University and just two points behind Union Commonwealth University. Reinhardt University claimed the top spot with 179 points and five first-place votes.

During last season, Montreat finished with an 11-17 (8-12 AAC) record, good enough for the No. 9 seed in the AAC Tournament. The Cavs won their opening-round matchup versus Columbia College before dropping their quarterfinal contest to Milligan University, the eventual tournament champion.

The 2026 AAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' 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 will open its 2026-27 season on Friday, Oct. 23, against Midway University at the Brescia Classic in Owensboro, Ky. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET. 

AAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
School (First-Place Votes) – Total Voting Points
1. Reinhardt (5) – 179
2. Milligan (4) – 176
3. Pikeville (5) – 173
4. Johnson – 150
5. Tennessee Wesleyan – 148
6. Bryan – 102
7. Spartanburg Methodist – 100
8. Brenau – 96
9. Columbia – 89
10. Union Commonwealth – 77
11. Montreat – 75
12. Truett McConnell – 47
13. Columbia International – 34
14. Bluefield – 24