Continuing our preseason Top 25 for the 2025 D-III college season, it's time for #6-15!
January 16, 2025 by Ultiworld in Rankings
Ultiworld’s College Power Rankings, presented by the National Ultimate Training Camp!
We are excited to present the 2025 preseason College Power Rankings! As we head into a new season, we’ve looked at past performance, roster changes, preseason results, and more to figure out how we think the team could stack up this season. Take a look at our first rankings set of the spring college season and read up about each Top 25 team.
We will be counting down our rankings in three parts:
The #25 to #16
The #15 to #6
The Top 5
D-III Women’s
6. Middlebury Pranksters
2024 Finish: #5 in Power Rankings, T-3rd at Nationals, 20-9 record
Claire Babbott-Bryan and Keziah Wilde are gone. It’s time for a new era for the Pranksters. There’s no doubt that it starts with 2023 ROTY Lucy VanNewkirk, but there are plenty of other players with the ability to make plays for Middlebury. The Pranksters are also an organization that hasn’t had any trouble finding new talent, so it’ll be interesting to see what new rookie1 turns heads for the team this season.
– Zack Davis
7. Portland UPRoar
2024 Finish: #1 in Power Rankings, 1st at Nationals, 23-5 record
Yes, Portland does lose the most impactful player in the division and POTY, Julianna Galian. But this could prove to be too steep a drop for a reigning champ team that only graduated two players and still boasts the likes of Hayden Ashley, Audrey Stineman, Annalise Korch, and Maryanne Maxwell. Sprinkle in the strategic minds of the Coaches of the Year, plus new coach Kelsey Salvo, and UPRoar have the recipe for another winning season.
– Theresa Diffendal
8. Davenport Panthers
2024 Finish: #11 in Power Rankings, T-11th at Nationals, 13-11 record
Back for their second season, the Panthers are looking to improve on their results from last season. ROTY second runner-up Leilani Lepe is back alongside captain Lanie O’Neill who was instrumental to their success last year. The Panthers have a good shot at not just making Nationals, but making a run at the final.
– Zack Davis
9. Whitman Sweets
2024 Finish: #3 in Power Rankings, N/A at Nationals (3rd at Northwest ConfRegionals), 10-8 record
The Sweets are perhaps the biggest “what if” of the 2024 season, the only team to take down Portland before Regionals injuries saw them lose the final on universe, then the bid to Lewis & Clark. Though Gemma Munck is gone, Whitman only graduates a handful of players from 2024. Sweets stars like Gabbie Campbell, Wyatt Albright, Ollie Fox, and Josephine Bygrane are sure to have their sights set on getting back on the national stage.
– Theresa Diffendal
10. Colorado College Zenith
2024 Finish: #14 in Power Rankings, 13th at Nationals, 25-10 record
A team that truly finds success by committee, Zenith are looking to make a return to Nationals via the South Central region. Some players that are hoping to get them back include, but are not limited to, Kelsey Viadro and Cassidy Recker. Zenith have, in recent years, been on the upswing and it seems this could be the year they finally reach the summit.
– Zack Davis
11. Wellesley Whiptails
2024 Finish: #8 in Power Rankings, T-7th at Nationals, 19-11 record
The Whiptails’ roster has taken a few hits, losing five players to study abroad and, most notably, graduating Bella Steedly. But emerging stars Annika Wolberg, Kali Bate, and Krishangi Dandapure can help Wellesley snap back and enter 2025 unfazed.
– Raquel Alegria
12. Mt. Holyoke Daisy Chain
2024 Finish: #12 in Power Rankings, 10th at Nationals, 15-14 record
Daisy Chain have been blossoming with no intention of stopping. They remain unscathed from the dread of graduating classes and can benefit from the shepherding of Jaime Eldridge and Charlotte Moynihan.
– Raquel Alegria
13. Williams NOVA
2024 Finish: #15 in Power Rankings, N/A at Nationals (4th at New England Regionals), 17-6 record
Retention is Williams’s least worry. Despite losing Coco Rhum and Joanie Cha, NOVA keep vetted players, Skyler Yarter and Emily Stranger, looking to continue trailblazing their hefty roster right back toward Nationals.
– Raquel Alegria
14. Lewis & Clark Artemis
2024 Finish: #13 in Power Rankings, T-11th at Nationals, 11-13 record
While Lewis & Clark did not break seed at Nationals, they leave 2024 with the coveted spirit award and can revel in knowing they kept up with last year’s champs in the Northwest Conferences, losing by one. With the leadership of Mikah Keetch and Katelyn Osborne, Artemis can return with immense energy that will produce more rewarding breakthroughs.
– Raquel Alegria
15. Bates Cold Front
2024 Finish: #17 in Power Rankings, N/A at Nationals (T-5th at New England Regionals), 15-7 record
Bates has been on a slippery slope in recent years, but they have grown into a pretty solid team. This year, Cold Front can rely on the steady Liv Meyers and Claire Barlass to steer them toward greater feats and, once again, a chance at Nationals.
– Raquel Alegria
D-III Men’s
6. Franciscan Fatal
2024 Finish: #8 in Power Rankings, T-7th at Nationals, 26-5 record
Last year, Franciscan rode the stellar play of Jude Schmiesing and Matthew Gregor all the way to their best Nationals finish since 2017. They’re both back for another season, a statement that should put quite a scare into their regional rivals.
– Josh Katz
7. Lewis & Clark Bacchus
2024 Finish: #9 in Power Rankings, 9th at Nationals, 20-6 record
Bacchus had a strong season in 2024, playing close at Nationals with some of the top dogs and notching nice wins over Bates, CHOP, and Oberlin. They return most of their top players, including U24 tryoutee and All-American Max Zwerin, who should again challenge to be among the best players in the division.
– Graham Gordon
8. Richmond Spidermonkeys
2024 Finish: #4 in Power Rankings, T-3rd at Nationals, 22-10 record
Although Richmond graduated 13 players from their semifinal roster, they still have the ability to make a deep run at Nationals. Led by senior handler Calvin Ciorba, the Spidermonkeys have always been a talented team with strong coaching, and it won’t be a surprise if they’re able to pull off a win like last year’s upset over #1 Middlebury in quarterfinals.
– Graham Gordon
9. St. Olaf Berzerkers
2024 Finish: #1 in Power Rankings, 1st at Nationals, 37-3 record
Last year, St. Olaf capped off one of the most dominant four year stretches in D-III history with a title. But many of the key contributors from that season (and that entire stretch), including three-time First Team All-American Will Brandt, have graduated, putting a slight damper on the Berzerkers’ 2025 prospects.
– Josh Katz
10. Carleton CHOP
2024 Finish: #10 in Power Rankings, 10th at Nationals, 30-12 record
After two years of not making Nationals, CHOP decisively returned in 2024. Although they easily made Nationals, they hung out in the middle ranks the entire season, including in Milwaukee. Can they move back up the D-III ranks this year?
– Calvin Ciorba
11. Bates Orange Whip
2024 Finish: #11th in Power Rankings, 11th at Nationals, 26-9 record
Orange Whip were one of the cool stories that popped up in 2024, where they qualified for their first Nationals. With All-American Daniel Snider coming back, alongside Miles Miller, Bates has another great shot at making it back.
– Calvin Ciorba
12. Elon Big Fat Bomb
2024 Finish: #16 in Power Rankings, N/A at Nationals (3rd at Atlantic Coast ConfRegionals), 15-4 record
Many believed Elon had the talent to make Nationals last year, but an inconsistent regular season left them outside the bid bubble when the Series began, giving BFB an uphill battle at Regionals that they were unable to conquer. This year, they’ve graduated few and added 2024 U-20 selection Brayden Morrison, which makes anything other than a trip to Nationals a disappointing outcome for their season.
– Josh Katz
13. Berry Bucks
2024 Finish: #13 in Power Rankings, 13th at Nationals, 23-10 record
For the past three years, the story of Berry was largely the story of Collin Hill. Now that Hill has graduated, seeing which new stars will emerge for the Bucks is the thing to watch. In a weak Southeast region, expect the Bucks to be the favorites again no matter who they graduated.
– Calvin Ciorba
14. Macalester Flat Earth
2024 Finish: #20 in Power Rankings, N/A at Nationals (3rd at North Central Regionals), 19-12 record
Buy your Flat Earth stock now, as it may soon be gone. It’s the year of the Suelflows, whose star emergence in the club season makes Macalester immediate contenders for a North Central bid. As they also add depth with some experienced freshmen, Macalester is the team to watch in 2025.
– Calvin Ciorba
15. Rochester Piggies
2024 Finish: #12 in Power Rankings, 12th at Nationals, 22-12 record
The Piggies continue to surprise, as they’ve made the bracket the last two years of Nationals as a bottom seed. With minimal losses, and Ben Kelley still coaching, Rochester has another good chance of making it out of the Metro East mud.
– Calvin Ciorba
U24 selection Ella Widmyer, perhaps? ↩