Every preseason has one.
One team the conference overlooks.
One program picked to finish in the middle of the standings because it’s the “safe” prediction.
This year, I believe that team is AUM.
No, I’m not predicting an undefeated season.
No, I’m not saying the Warhawks are guaranteed to win a conference championship.
But I am saying this: don’t be surprised if AUM finishes several spots higher than the preseason projections.
Here’s why.
Preseason Polls Are More About Reputation Than Reality
Let’s be honest.
Preseason rankings are educated guesses.
They’re based on last year’s results, returning players, transfers, coaching stability, and reputation.
But they don’t account for chemistry.
They don’t measure player development over the summer.
They can’t predict which sophomore suddenly becomes an All-Conference player or which newcomer makes an immediate impact.
That’s why every season has surprise teams.
AUM has an opportunity to become one of them.
Improvement Isn’t Always Obvious
Fans often judge teams by what they see on game day.
Coaches judge teams by what happens in practice.
The biggest leap for a program usually happens months before the season begins.
Extra conditioning.
Better communication.
Improved serve receive.
Smarter decision-making.
Those improvements rarely make headlines, but they’re often the difference between finishing .500 and competing near the top of the conference.
Experience Matters in Close Matches
Every conference season comes down to a handful of close contests.
Those are the matches that define standings.
Experienced teams know how to respond when momentum shifts.
They don’t panic after dropping a set.
They don’t let one mistake become three.
If AUM can stay composed in those moments, they’ll steal wins that many people expect them to lose.
Every Team Needs a Signature Win
If the Warhawks want to change the narrative around the program, they’ll need one victory that forces everyone to pay attention.
One upset.
One statement performance.
One match where the rest of the conference says, “Maybe we underestimated them.”
Every breakout season has that moment.
The challenge is recognizing it when it arrives.
Don’t Chase Respect—Chase Consistency
Respect follows consistency.
Not the other way around.
Too many teams spend time worrying about rankings, predictions, and outside opinions.
The best teams focus on one thing:
Winning the next point.
Do that often enough, and the standings take care of themselves.
My Prediction
Here’s the prediction that might raise some eyebrows:
By the end of the season, AUM won’t be the team people are calling “surprising.”
They’ll be the team opponents wish they didn’t have to face.
Not because they’re flashy.
Not because they’re the most talented roster in the conference.
Because they’re disciplined.
Because they compete.
Because they make teams earn every single point.
That’s the kind of identity that travels well in conference play.
And if AUM builds that identity early, don’t be shocked if the Warhawks climb the standings faster than anyone expected.
The preseason may not believe in them.
By the end of the year, the conference just might have to.
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