COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) has released the 2026 Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll, with the Rangers coming in at 10th place.
Regis garnered 67 points in the poll, placing 10th out of 15 teams. RU went 4-22 in 2025, including three conference wins, finishing 12th in the league standings.
Teams earn 14 points for a 1st-place vote, 13 for 2nd, etc. Head coaches were not permitted to vote for their team.
The league also announced its 2026 Preseason All-RMAC Volleyball Team with 14 student-athletes earning recognition. Again this season, the RMAC's preseason teams are determined by placing returning players in order of head coaches' voting from the league's 2025 All-RMAC Teams.
UCCS claimed the No. 1 spot in the Preseason Coaches' Poll with 187 points, earning eight first-place votes, four seconds, and one third. The Mountain Lions are coming off a season that culminated in a share of the RMAC Regular Season Championship, marking the first regular season championship in program history, an appearance in the 2025 RMAC Championship game as the No. 2 overall seed, and a berth in the 2025 NCAA Division II Volleyball Tournament. Reigning RMAC Coach of the Year Tara Hittle returns to lead the Mountain Lions, while four student-athletes represent UCCS on the 2026 Preseason All-RMAC Roster, the most of any institution.
Colorado Mesa University checks in at No. 2 in the Preseason Coaches' Poll with 169 points. The Mavericks enter the new season following a successful 2025 campaign in which they earned the No. 5 seed in the RMAC Championship and advanced to the semifinal round before receiving an at-large bid to the 2025 NCAA Division II Volleyball Tournament. Colorado Mesa is represented by three student athletes on the 2026 Preseason All-RMAC Roster, the second most of any school.
Colorado School of Mines and Metropolitan State University of Denver are tied for the third spot in the Coaches' Poll, with both programs earning 165 points. The Orediggers earned the No. 4 seed in the 2025 RMAC Championship after posting a 20-6 record during the regular season. Following a quarterfinal loss in the conference championship, Colorado School of Mines advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament, defeating UCCS along the way. The Orediggers are represented by one student-athlete on the 2026 Preseason All-RMAC Roster.
MSU Denver enters the 2026 season as the defending national champions. The Roadrunners built momentum throughout the 2025 season, finishing the regular season with a 23-3 record and a 13-1 mark in RMAC play. MSU Denver lost just one set during the RMAC Championship before advancing through the NCAA Division II Tournament and defeating Concordia St. Paul, 3-1, to capture the national title. The Roadrunners are now under the stewardship of Stacie Meisner and are represented by two student-athletes on the 2026 Preseason All-RMAC Roster.
Colorado State University Pueblo rounds out the top five with 155 points, while Colorado Christian University, Fort Lewis College, South Dakota Mines, and Westminster University, round out spots six through nine with 125, 112, 107, and 83, points, respectively.
Adams State University (62), New Mexico Highlands University (52), Western Colorado University (44), Black Hills State University (43), and Chadron State College (38) close out the remaining spots in the 2026 Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The 14-member preseason team features 10 student-athletes who earned First- or Second-Team All-RMAC honors last season. Five returning First-Team All-RMAC selections headline the 2026 Preseason All-RMAC squad, joined by five returning Second-Team All-RMAC honorees.
Both of the Ranger's 2025 All-Conference Honorees, Braiziah Dixon and Isabella Smith, graduated last spring. The team's key returners include libero Krissy Brei (294 digs in '25) and outside hitter Sabrina Landman (166 kills in '25).
For the full Poll and Preseason Team, click here.
