Volleyball On SI

NCAA Volleyball Reveals Preseason Power 10 Rankings

Who is the favorite heading into the 2026 season?

Nicole Reitz

Kentucky lands at No.2 in the NCAA's preseason rankings.
Kentucky lands at No.2 in the NCAA's preseason rankings. / Kentucky Athletics

With the official start of the Division I college volleyball season nearing on Aug. 21, Michella Chester of the NCAA has revealed her Preseason Power 10 Rankings.

Several powerhouses from the 2025 season are predicted to make noise again, while the reigning national champions just barely make the list. 

NCAA Preseason Power 10 Rankings

  1. Nebraska 
  2. Kentucky 
  3. Texas 
  4. Stanford
  5. Wisconsin 
  6. Pitt
  7. Purdue 
  8. Louisville 
  9. SMU 
  10. Texas A&M 

*First Team Out: Penn State 

Nebraska Cornhuskers 

Nebraska at No. 1 is probably a shock to nobody.

The Cornhuskers were the unanimous favorite to repeat as Big Ten Champions with the returning senior trio of Andi Jackson, Harper Murray and Bergen Reilly named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team. 

The Huskers won their sixth Big Ten title in 2025 with an undefeated 20-0 record in conference play. They finished the season at 33-1 and reached the NCAA Regional Final before falling to Texas A&M. 

This team has been a massive force the last four years.

Will 2026 finally bring a national title? 

Kentucky Wildcats 

The 2025 national runner-up is back for revenge.

Though the Wildcats lost Eva Hudson, transfer Morgan Gaerte will now step in to be a powerful duo with Brooklyn DeLeye. The team is favored in the SEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll and leads the AVCA Player of the Year Watch List. 

This marks DeLeye’s third season being named to the preseason finalist list, with Gaerte, Kassie O’Brien and Molly Tuozzo all making their first appearance. With 10-straight SEC championships, another national title is knocking on the door. 

SMU Mustangs 

SMU ranking within the top 10 may be a shock to some, but after making a third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, this team shouldn’t be slept on.

Transfers Suli Davis, Victoria Harris, Gabi Placide, and Ava Sarafa have the opportunity to continue elevating what head coach Sam Erger has built. 

Stanford Cardinal 

Hot off its first ACC Volleyball Championship title and an overall record of 29-5 in 2025, the young talent from last season enters with great experience. 

Elia Rubin was the team’s only loss, but Lizzy Andrew, Logan Parks, Jordyn Harvey, and Spencer Etzler fill that gap with loads of talent. 

Stanford even leads the ACC Preseason Coaches Poll with 10 first-place votes and 280 total points, and leads the All-ACC Team with five selections. Harvey makes her second appearance, while Andrew, Julia Blyashov, Etzler, and Parks are recognized for the first time in their careers.

Texas A&M Aggies 

The Aggies are fresh off their first-ever national title in 2025, but what are the chances they repeat in 2026?

The team will have a very new look as Logan Lednicky, Ifenna Cos-Okpalla, and Maddie Waak are gone, but Kyndal Stowers returns and Natalie Ring debuts as a transfer. The SEC Coaches’ Poll placed the Aggies at No. 3, just behind Kentucky and Texas, with Stowers being the lone representative on the Preseason All-SEC Team. 

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Nicole Reitz
NICOLE REITZ

Nicole Reitz graduated from Indiana University Indianapolis with a degree in sports journalism in 2022 and has been writing about softball and baseball since 2018. Her work has been published in various publications like Softball On SI, Softball America, the Indianapolis Star, and SoxOn35th.

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