2026 Preseason Power Rankings

The Master’s Mustangs will enter the year at No.1 for the Preseason NAIA Volley Report Power Rankings, Powered by WinWon. TMU is led by seventh-year head coach Jared Goldberg, who holds an 88-26 career record.

The Master’s (Calif.) is coming off its first national championship in program history. In the 2025 season, TMU had an astonishing year, winning 27 straight matches while dropping just 13 sets all year.

1. The Master’s Mustangs - Great Southwest Athletic Conference

First Four:

Jan. 22 Saint Xavier (IL)

Jan. 23 NCAA Division-I Long Island

Jan. 28 & 31 NCAA Division-II CUI

Quick Notes: The Mustangs graduated six, but they have reloaded with seven student-athletes looking to make an immediate impact. Two eye-catching transfers are Grant Strong, a graduate transfer from Ohio State, and Andrew Karges, a junior transfer from Grand Canyon.

2. Saint Xavier Cougars - Chicagoland Athletic Conference

First Four:

Jan. 22 The Master’s (Calif.)

Jan. 23 NCAA Division-II Vanguard (Calif.)

Jan. 24 NCAA Division-II CUI

Jan. 29 St. Thomas (Fla.)

Quick Notes: The Cougars get another crack at the Reigning National Champions, The Master’s, which was their only loss in the 2025 season. Saint Xavier returns Matt Pennala, who was named NAIA Player of the Year for the 2025, along with Cameron Daniels, who was the floor general for the Cougars.

3. St. Thomas Bobcats - Appalachian Athletic Conference

First Four:

Jan. 23 Brescia

Jan. 24 Oakland City (IN)

Jan. 24 Campbellsville (KY)

Jan. 26 NCAA Division-II Lees-McRae

Quick Notes: The Bobcats had a successful year as an inaugural program under head coach Breno Ertty. St. Thomas returns Gabriel Negrao, who was the No. 2 man when it came to K/S. The Bobcats dropped two games in their program debut, both to nationally-ranked opponents, Park (Mo.) and The Master’s (Calif.).

4. Missouri Valley Vikings - Heart of America Athletic Conference

First Four:

Jan. 23 Cornerstone (MI)

Jan. 24 Indiana Tech

Jan. 29 OUAZ

Jan. 30 Central Christian (KS)

Quick Notes: The Vikings finished 22-5 with the program’s first regular-season title. Missouri Valley enters the year with a new face, with the help of Leonardo Bilitardo, a program alum and reigning Heart of America Assistant Coach of the Year.

5. Missouri Baptist Spartans - Heart of America Athletic Conference

First Four:

Jan. 22 Olivet Nazarene (IL)

Jan. 22 Trinity Christian (IL)

Jan. 23 Rio Grande (Ohio)

Jan. 30 Brescia

Quick Notes: The Spartans had another great year in one of the most competitive conferences in the NAIA. MBU starts the year in Bourbonnais where they face teams from the CCAC and the River States Conference.

6. Lawrence Tech Blue Devils - Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference

First Four:

Jan. 22 Georgetown (KY)

Jan. 23 Life (Ga.)

Jan. 24 William Penn (Iowa)

Jan. 24 NCAA Division-III Hope

Quick Notes: The Blue Devils had a dominant year in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, earning the WHAC Tournament Champions. LTU graduated seven Blue Devils, as their leading kill leader, Nestor Addah, along with Brendon Down and JT McCarthy.

7. Georgetown Tigers - River States Conference

First Four:

Jan. 22 Lawrence Tech (MI)

Jan. 23 Hope International (Calif.)

Jan. 24 Lourdes

Feb. 6 Missouri Baptist

Quick Notes: Georgetown looks to continue its dominance in the River States Conference after snagging its fourth consecutive conference title. The Tigers return their top three kill leaders, Michal Bak, Kristjan Unt, and Robin Puss. GC will be tested immediately, facing three of its four opponents who qualified for the national tournament.

8. Benedictine Mesa Redhawks - Great Southwest Athletic Conference

First Four:

Jan. 23 Aquinas (Mich.)

Jan. 24 Indiana Tech

Jan. 24 Cornerstone (MI)

Feb. 5 Oakland City

Quick Notes: The Redhawks are looking to make another appearance at the National Tournament. Benedictine Mesa features a new face at the helm in Grant Degrasse, a program alum who brings a decorated resume into his first season as head coach.

9. Park Pirates - Heart of America Athletic Conference

First Four:

Jan. 22 Governors State (IL)

Jan. 23 Avila

Jan. 23 Reinhardt (Ga.)

Jan. 24 Central Christian (KS)

Quick Notes: The Pirates look to continue their tradition of success as they jump into the 2026 season. Park returns three all-conference Pirates as they aim to contend for another Heart of America title.

10. Mount Mercy Mustangs - Heart of America Athletic Conference

First Four:

Jan. 22 Viterbo

Feb. 4 Viterbo

Feb. 6 Avila

Feb. 10 William Penn (Iowa)

Quick Notes: The Mustangs finished the year 22-8 under head coach Austin Filer, who has a rich history with Mount Mercy. MMU returns nearly an entire roster, losing only Ryan Usher. A few notable returners are reigning Freshman of the Year, Libero of the Year, and four all-conference honors.

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