2026 Beach Volleyball Preseason Poll (.pdf) | 2026 Schedule
Cal Poly has been selected as the preseason favorite in the 2026 Big West Beach Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll, as voted on by the league’s seven head coaches.

The Mustangs earned 35 points and collected five first-place votes to claim the top spot heading into the spring. CP enters the 2026 season following a historic 2025 campaign that saw the Mustangs finish 31-8 overall, earn a No. 4 national ranking in the final AVCA Collegiate Beach Poll, and establish themselves as a consistent national contender. CP's top pairing of Ella Connor and Erin Inskeep competed in the AVCA Beach Pairs National Championship, earning a third-place finish back in November and look to keep the momentum going into spring. 

Long Beach State slots in second with 32 points and a pair of first-place votes after closing the 2025 season ranked No. 10 nationally. The Beach finished 27-12 a year and is powered by Malia Gementera and Taylor Hagenah, who finished first in the aforementioned 2025 AVCA Beach Pairs National Championship.

Hawai‘i rounds out the top three with 26 points. The Rainbow Wahine, who finished the 2025 season ranked No. 19 in the final AVCA poll, are now led by Danny Alvarez, who spent nearly a decade as an assistant coach. 

UC Davis is picked fourth with 20 points following an 18-16 campaign last season. The Aggies also have new leadership at the helm under Ari Homayun, who comes to Davis after serving as CSUN’s head coach. 

The Matadors check in at No. 5 with 15 points following a 17-17 showing in 2025. Two-time Big West Coach of the Year (2016, 2018), Jeff Hall will look to make an immediate impact for the Matadors this upcoming season.

Cal State Bakersfield and Sacramento State round out the poll with 13 points and six points, respectively.  

All seven institutions are slated to take to the sand for the 2026 Big West Beach Volleyball Championship at Swanson Beach Volleyball Complex in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Hosted by Cal Poly, the 2026 Championship event is set to take place on April 23-24, featuring modified pool play followed by a six-team single elimination bracket to determine the league's champion.