Carleton competes in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), one of the top leagues in the NCAA Division III. The MIAC has sent at least three teams to the NCAA Championships in six of the last seven years, including four teams on five occasions since 2005. The Knights placed in the top four of the conference standings every season from 2003 to 2007 and won the 2004 regular-season title. Under head coach Heidi Jaynes, the Knights have enjoyed unparalleled success. Carleton reached the MIAC playoffs five straight times and advanced to the 2005 and 2007 NCAA Tournaments. They were ranked in the national Top 25 AVCA poll from 2004 through 2007.