Breaking Down the NCAA Committee’s D1 Volleyball In-Season Top 16 Rankings

The committee looked at 64 teams and considered several criteria to determine their rankings, including strength of schedule, top-10 wins, and head-to-head competition.

UCLA lands at No. 13 in the NCAA Committee’s D1 Volleyball In-Season Top 16 Rankings. | UCLA Athletics

The NCAA DI women's volleyball committee dropped its in-season Top 16 Rankings during Sunday's Florida vs. Texas match, giving fans an early look at potential NCAA Tournament seedings. 

This marks the third year that the in-season rankings feature 16 teams. The committee looked at 64 teams and considered several criteria to determine their rankings, including strength of schedule, top-10 wins, and head-to-head competition.

All matches through Saturday, Oct. 17, were considered. 

Teams that have been turning heads as of late, like Tennessee, Arizona State, and Oklahoma, were not included.

Check out the Top 16 teams and how it differs from AVCA’s current Top 25 poll. 

NCAA Top 16 Division I Volleyball Teams 

1. Nebraska (19-0) 
2. Pitt (17-1) 
3. Kentucky (15-3) 
4. Wisconsin (13-5) 
5. Florida (14-2)
6. SMU (14-4) 
7. Louisville (18-2) 
8. TCU (15-3) 
9. BYU (15-1) 
10. Oregon (16-2) 
11. Vanderbilt (15-2) 
12. Texas (9-6) 
13. UCLA (15-4) 
14. Penn State (13-5) 
15. Washington (14-3) 
16. Purdue (11-6) 

The NCAA Dl Women’s Volleyball Committee announces its Top 16 Rankings based on results through October 17, 2026. 🏐

🎟️ https://t.co/YeDWiQgXqM#NCAAWVB pic.twitter.com/8ygoImzIkO

— NCAA Women's Volleyball (@NCAAVolleyball) October 19, 2026

Vanderbilt Commodores 

In just the program’s second year, Vanderbilt is absolutely the team to keep your eye on.

For the first time in program history, the Commodores earned a spot in the AVCA Top 25 after grabbing a 3-1 win over then- No.5 Florida to earn the first top-five win and second-ranked win in program history.

SEC STUN FEELS SO GOOD#SetTheStandard | #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/g1pHNm8QQU

— Vanderbilt Volleyball (@VandyVolleyball) October 12, 2026

Now, after downing Alabama and Mississippi State, the Commodores have the league on watch. This is a perfect display of how deeply the NCAA committee takes top-10 wins into consideration. 

They’ll move into the rest of the season facing large opponents like Tennessee and Texas, but don’t be shocked when they make a serious postseason run. 

UCLA Bruins

What is interesting about the Bruins being listed is that they have not appeared in AVCA’s Top 25 ranking once this season. While they have received votes several times, the Bruins have taken tough losses to programs like Kentucky, BYU, and Indiana, and even lost to Michigan State. 

A recent five-set win over Penn State certainly boosts them, but their strength of schedule throughout the end of October and November may just be why they gained a spot. UCLA will see Big Ten foes Nebraska, Wisconsin, Purdue, Washington, and Oregon in the coming weeks. 

𝐁𝐑𝐔-𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐒 🙌

UCLA outlasts Ohio State in five sets to earn its fifth consecutive victory!#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/CPbxpgiJdq

— UCLA Women's Volleyball (@UCLAWomensVB) October 19, 2026

Texas Longhorns 

The Longhorns make the list with the worst record of the 16 teams. Over the last few weeks, they have fallen to unranked Oklahoma and came up short in a five-set loss to the Florida Gators. 

final | TEXAS 2 FLORIDA 3#HookEm

— Texas Volleyball (@TexasVolleyball) October 19, 2026

And while they have collected big wins over Wisconsin and Tennessee, the rest of their schedule for October and November doesn’t see any AVCA Top 25 teams aside from Vanderbilt and Texas A&M, plus Georgia, which has been receiving votes. 

Wisconsin Badgers 

The Badgers being ranked higher than Louisville, SMU, and Florida is a bit of a surprise. While Louisville does not have Top 10 RPI wins, and SMU lost to Miami, the two feel like stronger opponents just based on the eye test. 

The Badgers are 7-1 in Big Ten play, though, with the lone loss coming against the undefeated Nebraska. 

NCAA Top 16 reveal with the Badgers checking in at No. 4 pic.twitter.com/V7IkEXEeKI

— Wisconsin Volleyball (@BadgerVB) October 19, 2026

BYU Cougars 

It’s possible no one predicted the Cougars in the Top 10 of this list, but they have stepped up since the first and only loss of the season to Pitt and are cruising through their schedule. Arizona State and TCU are two matches that could potentially test BYU moving forward. 

NO. 9 IN THE NCAA COMMITTEE TOP 16 🙌 pic.twitter.com/1OHGMEVpEp

— BYU Women’s Volleyball (@BYUwvolleyball) October 19, 2026