Top 10 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Teams to Watch in 2026
The buzz from the recent NCAA volleyball tournament final four in Kansas City still lingers. Texas A&M’s wild national championship win has fans talking.
But honestly, it’s never too soon to start thinking about the 2026 season. The transfer portal’s already open, and teams are moving fast—everyone wants a shot at the next big run.
This post takes a look at the top 10 teams to keep an eye on for the 2026 NCAA women’s volleyball season. It’s all based on current rosters and possible transfers, though who really knows what twists the offseason will bring?
Let’s get into which squads might shake things up next year.
Top Contenders for the 2026 Season
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College volleyball changes fast. New recruits and transfers can flip the script in a heartbeat.
Here are the teams that look set to make a big impact in 2026:
Texas Longhorns
Texas Longhorns lead the way, and that shouldn’t surprise anyone. They’ve been a powerhouse for years.
The freshman class, with Cari Spears and Abby Vander Wal, helped Texas lock down a No. 1 NCAA tournament seed. The 2026 recruiting class looks stacked again—top outside hitter Henley Anderson and setter Genevieve Harris are joining the mix.
With Torrey Stafford, one of the country’s top point producers, leading the charge, Texas has all the right pieces for another run.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska dominated in 2025, right up until their upset loss to Texas A&M in the regional finals. They’re losing Rebekah Allick and Taylor Landfair, which stings.
Still, Bergen Reilly, Harper Murray, and Andi Jackson form a core that could finally get Nebraska the national title they missed this year.
Wisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers had a tough end, falling in the national semifinal to Kentucky. Coach Kelly Sheffield now has to replace stars like Mimi Colyer and Carter Booth.
Luckily, All-American setter Charlie Fuerbringer is still around, and the underclassmen have serious talent. The Badgers aren’t going anywhere.
Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky made an impressive run to the final four, thanks in large part to Eva Hudson. She’s graduating, though, so that’s a big gap to fill.
Brooklyn DeLeye returns for her senior year, joined by Lizzie Carr, Asia Thigpen, and Kennedy Washington. Kentucky’s aiming for another SEC title, but Texas will make that tough.
Pittsburgh Panthers
Pittsburgh just keeps showing up in the final four—five years in a row now. They’ll miss all-ACC setter Brooke Mosher, but Olivia Babcock is coming back for another season.
Maybe this is finally the year the Panthers break through to the national championship game. Can’t help but root for them a little, honestly.
Teams to Watch
The top teams get all the attention, but a few others might surprise people in 2026:
Stanford Cardinal
Stanford tied for the ACC championship with a roster loaded with freshmen and sophomores. They’ll lose top hitter Elia Rubin, which hurts, but the team’s depth is impressive.
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Could this be their first national title since 2019? Feels possible if things click.
Louisville Cardinals
Louisville’s got a lot going for them. ACC Freshman of the Year Kalyssa Blackshear and block leader Cara Cresse anchor the lineup.
With Payton Petersen and Chloe Chicoine hitting up front, the Cardinals have a shot at erasing the sting of their early 2025 NCAA exit.
SMU Mustangs
SMU’s roster is in flux—setter Averi Carlson and top hitter Malaya Jones are out. But they’ve pulled in Big 12 Freshman of the Year Suli Davis from BYU, which could change everything.
Jadyn Livings, Favor Anyanwu, and Natalia Newsome are back as sophomores. If they step up, SMU might surprise some folks.
Purdue Boilermakers
Purdue came out of nowhere, reaching the Elite Eight after being picked seventh in the Big Ten preseason poll. Only two seniors are leaving.
Kenna Wollard and Grace Heaney bring the star power. Purdue’s got a real shot to keep the momentum going.
Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M just won it all, but now they’ve got to replace Logan Lednicky and Maddie Waak. That’s a tall order.
Kyndal Stowers is still around, though, and her talent is hard to ignore. The Aggies could be in the SEC title mix again if things break their way.
Also Considered
Several other teams are on the radar for the 2026 season. They might make some noise and shake things up:
- USC Trojans
- Minnesota Golden Gophers
- Creighton Bluejays
These programs have flashed real potential. Maybe they’ll surprise us with big performances next season.
The 2026 NCAA women’s volleyball season already feels unpredictable. Between experienced players and some wild-card newcomers, who knows what’ll happen on the road to San Antonio? If you want more details, here’s the original article on ESPN.