Cal Poly, defending Big West champion and NCAA regional participant from a year ago, was slated to reign supreme with 11 first-place votes in the 2026 Big West Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll and three returners and the Preseason Coaches' Team. 

The Mustangs earned every possible nod and the highest points available after the Cinderella run to the Sweet 16 accumulating 121 points from the league's 12 head coaches. Looking to expand on their 27-8 overall record and 14-4 mark in Big West action from a season ago, the depth of the seasoned Cal Poly squad is showcased by three on the preseason team, with Kendall Beshear, Emma Fredrick and Chloe Leluge each taking honors.  

Fredrick, an All-Big West first team selection a season ago, led the league in total kills (422) and points (488) with 27 double-digit kill efforts and 12 double-doubles on the season including 17 kills and 17 digs as the squad upended Southern California on their home floor to advance to the regionals.  

Along with powering down 3.07 kills per set, Beshear was a force at the service line in 2025. The junior from Palos Verdes, Calif., served up 51 strikes to top The Big West and rank 23rd nationally. Leluge, the 2025 Big West Championship Most Valuable Player, finished the season with 1.02 blocks per set and hit .377 from the middle including 12 matches at or above .500 hitting for the Bend, Ore., native. 

Second in the polling with 109 total points is Long Beach State (22-9, 14-4 BW in 2025). The Beach offense will be directed by junior Madi Maxwell, the lone setter to make the preseason listings. A second team All-Big West selection a year ago, the product of Newhall, Calif., averaged 9.42 assists per set with 1,074 total helpers on the season. The LBSU offense put away 13.66 kills per set in 2025 to pace the conference with Maxwell as the floor general. 

UC Santa Barbara (23-9, 14-4 BW in 2025) came in third in the voting, pulling in 99 total points. Reigning Big West Freshman of the Year Gabi Martinez returns to the Gauchos after a collegiate-opening campaign with 2.81 kills, 3.24 points and 1.35 digs per set while putting down 50 total blocks and earning 16 starts on the season. Martinez, a preseason All-Big West team selection, will see a new mentor with the whistle as Michael Henchy took the reigns in February, coming to UCSB from 2024 NCAA runners-up Penn State.  

Newcomer to the conference and 2025 WAC champion Utah Valley (16-11, 10-2 WAC in 2025) accumulated 84 total points and the final first-place vote to rank fourth in the poll. The Wolverines are fresh off their third NCAA Championship appearance after a two-trophy campaign to cap their time in the WAC. Despite the departure of conference Player of the Year and honorable mention All-American Avery Page, Utah Valley returns the 2025 WAC Setter of the Year Evalyn (Medaris) Chism who averaged 6.80 assists and 1.95 digs per set for the Wolverines.  

Fifth place in the listing belongs to Sacramento State after tallying 80 points as the squad prepares for their inaugural season as full Big West members. Victoria Marthaler, defending Big Sky Player of the Year, headlines the Hornets offense and earned a place on the preseason All-Big West team. The junior from Albuquerque, N.M. averaged a Big Sky-best 4.89 kills per set, good for sixth in the country, and 5.38 points per set to total 553 kills in a first year for the Hornets. Marthaler picked up honorable mention AVCA status after the impressive sophomore campaign to become just the third Sacramento State player in the Division I era to earn acclaim. 

A tie in the votes is seen at sixth with CSUN and UC Irvine both knotted at 64 points. Should the predictions ring true, the final two slots in the 2026 Big West Women's Volleyball Championship would be filled by the Matadors and Anteaters, mirroring the final two teams in the 2025 field. For CSUN, last season's entry into the postseason was their first, while UCI made a third-straight bracket.  

Sitting in eighth in the poll with 60 points is UC San Diego. The team will rely on preseason team member Molly McCluskey to continue to lead the offensive efforts. The junior opposite hitter from Costa Mesa, Calif., finished the 2025 campaign in the top five in The Big West total kills (392) and points (449) in a second year starting for the Tritons. UCSD will be under the direction of first-year head coach Spencer McLaughlin, who comes to La Jolla after a successful two-year stint as the associate head coach at Southern California.  

California Baptist (35 points), UC Riverside (34), Cal State Fullerton (24) and Cal State Bakersfield (18) round out the poll.  The Roadrunners round out the fresh faces on the sidelines with Kristen Wright taking the helm in Bakersfield, returning to her hometown after eight seasons at North Florida.  

Fans can get ready for the season with a new and innovative approach to team-by-team preseason previews. Each day, analysis and insights from the tandem of Chloe Clark and Rob Espero will hit The Big West's social media accounts with full coach interviews appearing on YouTube for even more insider information before the 2026 campaign begins.  

First serve across The Big West is set for Friday, Aug. 28, with 11 of 12 teams in high-flying action across the country including two on their home court. Saturday, the final squad hits the hardwood as every team opens up the season. Conference play around The Big West commences on Thursday, Sept. 24, with all three newcomers to the league in the spotlight. Additionally, preseason favorite Cal Poly heads to UC Santa Barbara for the Blue-Green Rivalry match on Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m. in a nationally televised game on ESPNU to showcase The Big West on the big stage.  

All told, nearly 150 women’s volleyball broadcasts across The Big West landscape will also be available to fans through ESPN+ throughout the year. Click here for upcoming listings to watch all 12 Big West member-institutions in action.