Move over 2025 it's time for the Pre-Pre-Season Poll for 2026 Top 10

Why Not Our Pre Pre-Season Top 10 for 2026

The Year of the Loaded Teams and Mega Stars

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When 2025 began, there were so many questions. Except for Nebraska, all the COVID-19 seniors squads were gone, and conferences, i.e., the ACC, had major voids to fill in new superstars. Finally, veteran rosters looked very different. The beginning of the year took some getting used to and brought some growing pains for most, except for Nebraska, and the level of play was a bit off for just a little while. By the end, talent grew up, Mega Stars emerged, and a new generation of greatness took over. The NCAA survived the year of 2025 with her growing pains.

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Well, guess what: 2026 won’t be anything like that, and it’s going to be deeper and stronger than anything fans saw during COVID times. We are calling 2026 the Year of the Loaded Teams.  Whether it be the Husker’s Dream Team finally becoming Srs or you do it like the Badgers and bring a new line change of transfers each season to go with your All-American Setter, or Stanford who can’t bring in transfers at all, but their recruits are just fine thank you very much this is going to be a season where 6-7 squads are walking in saying “We expect to win the Natty” and that hasn’t happened before in college volleyball.

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So with that, let’s throw out our Pre-Pre-Season Poll and get everyone good and upset right before the Holiday because isn’t that what Xmas is all about “GIVING” negative comments on Twitter????

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1. Nebraska: I do think they make one move in the portal, and I would probably have gone and spent some bucks the morning after the Texas A+M loss, but that’s also why I’m not DBK and not in charge of anyone’s salary cap. I do believe that Nebraska and Texas both believe that “less in the portal is more for a stronger culture,” and you go get a one piece that puts you over the top to win it all. So maybe they wait until the Spring window and see what they have exactly once the freshmen arrive on campus. I put them #1 because this recruiting class has to win a title, don’t they? However, I think 2025 was the easier year. Next year will be more difficult, and they will not go undefeated. I could see another go-to OH being added, along with possible depth on the right side again. I do think Nebraska will let everyone battle it out in the Spring and then decide, so whatever changes you see (transfers in OR out) won’t happen until after that Spring Match in April. I do think everyone might have been saying all of the right things a couple of weeks ago, but pressure will be ramped up on the Sr. Class in 2026. The problem is, as you continue reading, Texas, Pittsburgh, Wisconsin, and Penn State will all have better rosters than they had this season.  Nebraska and Texas are adopting similar philosophies of doing what they can to try and stick and utilize their own recruits if they can add all possible or at least let them go through a Spring and battle or positions before going to the Portal to replace them IF they do at all.

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2.  Texas: The Longhorns have held tight thus far with their nucleus. No activity in the portal other than Ayden Ames' departure. This might have been a surprise to some, but remember their roster is full of some of the best athletes in volleyball, and they teach them to play multiple positions, so they could be looking for a middle hitter option in-house or waiting until the Spring to fill the need.  It looks like they are sticking with Freshman Setter Genevieve Harris to work with Ella Swindle to run this powerful offense, rather than going after a veteran for a title run. They are deep at OH with Stafford and Vander Wal, and will add America’s #1 OH, Henlee Anderson, to that rotation, so no transfer coming there. You would think they are adding one more middle with the Ames transfer, but it’s a thin group, and the Horns didn’t make a move at any of the initial group, so that was surprising. Cari Spears returns on the RS, and no reason to change from what she gave them as a Freshman. Ramsey Gary moves back to take over at libero, but is America’s #1 prospect the trusted DS, or do they hit the portal for insurance? Rumors are yes, but that could be a Spring move. This was a tight group chemistry wise and obviously they have #1 prospects everywhere on the roster, but they need to make strides in year two and become more dominant to make a title run. Who is the Alpha?, they had one on each of their title teams and need that option to step up early.

This coaching staff truly wants to stick with their recruits, and they want to send a message to future recruits: "Hey, come here, and we are going to win with you and give you the first chance to get it done."  Something I think schools are showing they are truly believing or not right now with actions in the portal if you look up and down the Top 20.  Again like a Nebraska or even Kentucky they will go grab the right 1 player, but they are giving their recruit the 1st chance to earn that spot first before jumping at a better option in the portal immediately.  Philosophical coaching difference is all and see what works.

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3.  Pittsburgh: The Panthers are once again loaded for a title run. Solid coach who has been at the top of the profession for several years now, the 2x National Player of the Year on the RS returning again, now add Izzy Starck as their setter. 

Dan Fisher has made Pitt a Volleyball School, just like he said at the Final Four, and the Panthers are loading up like they are exactly that. They have a developing middle in Emch, and they will have their prized OH recruit Ayanna Watson joining the fold to give them a dominating duo on the left. The backcourt is going to be a strength and a group with young, solid depth.  When you look at the Panthers from a distance it's hard to see any flaws, great coaching, a national champion setter, a historic attacker in her final season and the best recruit they have ever brought to campus, mix in depth wise the best back court Pitt has ever assembled.  Dynasty continues for Fish.

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4.   Stanford: Yes, they lose a dominant and game-changing attacker, and unlike their competitors, the Cardinal can’t go get help in the portal, but their Freshman class matured ahead of schedule and were so disappointed walking off the court in Texas. This team is back, and though this incoming class isn’t as talented as the 2025s, they can add some depth, and the Cards will need bench players to develop. But the talented core nucleus is there, and this team is exciting.  If the Sophomores can turn up the intensity and and let that loss burn at them enough to take them to a different "hype level" the laid back Cardinal could become even scarier in big matches, but you have to factor some of that to the youth and the growth process tends to lead to more confidence which is why this team could be very scary.

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5.   Wisconsin: Has a much different approach than most teams and has used the portal whenever it improves their roster.  They use it very well and there are reasons for that, but at the end of the day this roster will be deep, talented and a definite title contender.  The fact we have them at #5 Pre-Preseason just hints at how tough NCAA Volleyball will be next season.  This would have been a no doubt #2 team last year. 

Now, they are also the shining example when we talk about the playing field not being at all even in the financial world of college volleyball when you can bring in UA-All American OH's and then as an early XMas gift just pick up an UA All-American Setter as a decommit to back up your All-American Setter for 2-years. It's not the January weather in Madison they are signing up for that's for sure, but awesome for the Badgers.  Let's look at this Mega Team.

They have Charlie at Setter, who truly played like one of the best setters in the country last year, and will have to be the floor general with the new pieces next season.  The way she played when she returned from her injury and through the NCAA tourney this December, wow that was 1st All-American talent for sure!  They are in great hands

Auguste is at school #3 now, and no one questions her athletic ability at all.  The way she started the season at Florida she was one of the biggest names in volleyball early.  Adding her punch to the lineup who will fill in nicely for Booth.  There is talk of Wisconsin still looking for another middle in the portal for insurance, but you have have Wardlow on your roster and are bringing in one of the top middles in the nation in with their incoming recruiting class in Tarnow and Kymora Scott will most certainly need a redshirt.

Libero: How huge was Simon coming in and winning that libero job last year!  Not to mention the job that she did.  Now the Badgers fill depth around her at DS, but what a luxury to have her for three more!.

OH:  You are bringing in two of the top 4-5 recruits in the country in January and just signed a portal veteran for stability.  Those three will be your main plan, hoping the Freshman pick things up this Spring and are ready match 1 in August.

You have talent and depth and if the staff gets all of the individual personalities to gel together for a common goal this is a loaded group that can obviously play with anyone in the country.  Athletically they will be dynamic to watch on any given night.

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6.   Penn State: They were aggressive, grabbing Stucky, and that was a big piece, and they can now relax for the first time since September as they have their floor general again and a solid one at that. They have a plan at OH and will give them a veteran presence who plays at a high level. The brand-new signing of former Pitt middle Jones makes a big impact for Penn State, as it was not expected, and she will present a big block, which is needed in the B1G.

Martin is back and reunited with her old setter so she should be just fine and hopefully getting some more help from other spots.

Falduto has been waiting her turn at ‘bro and is an All-American type talent herself.

*Penn State is ready to turn the page, and what kind of a leader can Stucky be? What production will they get from their pins? They know it has to be much better than last year. This is a team that was ranked #2 in America before the chaos broke out last season. They are ready to push that well behind them and move on with a setter who is ready to reunite with an old friend and make a fresh start on a big stage!

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7.   Texas A+M: Well, they lost nine seniors, you say. Right now, most of the volleyball world would buy oceanfront property in Jamie Morrison’s backyard if he asked them to, so don’t you worry about that. The transfers have already started pouring into Aggieville, with Natalie Ring and Kaia Castle being the first two, and more are expected. Plus, next year’s Sophomore class was the top recruiting class in Aggie history (up to that point), so you have to expect some of them to get some court time. I’d call it far from a rebuild in College Station; a reload is very appropriate. Also, look for possible contributions from a couple of the incoming 2026 class,s especially in the back row. Texas A+M is the hottest ticket in the sport right now, so this roster will be solid by August, and competition will be intense. They aren’t going anywhere, and down years are going to be few and far between, if at all, in College Station anymore.

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8.   Kentucky: Dream season over, and now where do they go? It’s that Runner-Up Championship hangover that can be so hard to replicate the magic sometimes. Yes, they have a lot of pieces, but guess what, EVERYONE else gets better.

1. How do you replace Eva Hudson? Hannah Benjamin has to take a huge jump to get to her UA All-American recruit level. 2. How do they upgrade in the middle? Bultema just hit the portal, so it seems like Washington will be the option. Middles are scarce in the portal, but bridging the gap here between UK and the other top contenders would help, but it doesn’t look like there will be any additions. Opposite: Daly hit the portal, and I love Asia Thigpen, and maybe this is where Benjamin fits in, or a portal option, but this needs to be another spot that the ‘Cats would seemingly need to add more offensive firepower to keep up with teams ahead of them on the list.  Craig Skinner will have them playing well and yes they have Brooklyn DeLeye, Molly Tuozzo and Kassie O'Brien.  My concern for Kentucky isn't that they get worse (eventhough replacing Hudson.....) it's that so many teams get so much better and I'm not sure they do?

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9.   Louisville: Is this a transition year or a tradition year for the Cards? Meaning do some new faces in new places take some time to fit in and take awhile to gel for Dan Meske’s crew, giving The ‘Ville a slightly different record than they have been accustomed to over the past few years OR is it next class up and tradition takes over and it’s simply plug and play and away they go, business as usual in Louisville? It could be a bit of both, and partially because of the strength of everyone else around them, Louisville might be one of the younger teams in this year of the Super Team.

Replacing 2x All-American Cresse will be a challenge in the middle as she has been such a constant for three years, but the new signing of Brooke Bultema from rival Kentucky will give them an athletic defensive option to help.

They have some incoming talent and some athletic options on the OH, but it’s someone becoming the ACE that will be the challenge. Chloe Meester, a UA All-American, could be an option there to go with Peterson

Nayellis Cabello enters year three at the Setter position, and Blair Theibaud from Houston Skyline will come in January. A highly touted recruit who will bring competition to the gym and give Louisville options on offense.

In the backcourt, Kamden Schrand will return, and in August, Elsi Karjanlahti will arrive on campus, and the European libero is expected to bolster the backcourt immediately.

The cards will be competitive and very good again, but so will the ACC. How soon some of the talent-rich new recruits adjust to the high level of play and the tough non-conference schedule Louisville has lined up could answer the question: Transition or Tradition?

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10.   SMU: The keys to this squad are a year older and returning. Incoming 2026 recruit Elle Vandeweghe should see immediate playing time in the middle and take heat off of Coach Erger for not being able to recruit:) The Cali prospect has climbed our charts and could be that big block the Mustangs have been searching for.  

They have to add a setter yet, and that is a key piece to where the pony express goes, but you add Suli Davis, and you are in business. Defensively shoring up and becoming elite in the back row could still use some attention, but this is an offensive machine full of weapons and ready to take another step.