The Wayne State volleyball team opens the 2026 season ranked ninth in the AVCA/TARAFLEX Division II Preseason Women's Volleyball Poll released Monday afternoon.  The Wildcats collected 786 points in voting conducted by various Division II coaches across the nation after finishing last season tied for 10^th with records of 27-5 overall and a third NSIC regular season title in the last four seasons with a 19-1 league mark.
            Wayne State opens the 2026 season on Friday, August 28^th in Garden City, New York facing #2 Tampa (Fla.) at 11:30 a.m. followed by a 2 p.m. match against Adelphi (NY), who was an NCAA Tournament team last season with a 24-8 record.            
  
AVCA/TARAFLEX Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll – Preseason Poll: August 17, 2026
                                                                           2026    2025 Final
Rank    School (First-Place Votes)   Points  Record   Rank
1          Concordia-St. Paul (18)            1142     0-0       2
2          Tampa (10)                               1108     0-0       3
3          MSU Denver (18)                       987     0-0       1
4          Point Loma                                965      0-0       4        
5          St. Cloud State                          916      0-0       5
6          Barry (Fla.) (1)                           903      0-0       6
7          Nebraska-Kearney                    895      0-0       7
8          Washburn                                  793      0-0       8
9          Wayne State (Neb.)                  786      0-0      T10
10         Ferris State                               763      0-0       12
11         Fresno Pacific                           625      0-0      T10
12         Central Oklahoma                    535      0-0       13
13         Wingate                                    527      0-0       9                                    
14         Southwest Minnesota State      507      0-0       16
15         Simon Fraser                            424      0-0       14
16         Alaska Fairbanks                      397      0-0       15
16         Missouri Western                      397      0-0       17
18         Lynn (Fla.)                                350      0-0       19
19         West Texas A&M                      342      0-0       20
20         Western Washington                279      0-0       18
21         Angelo State                            248      0-0       24
22         Bentley                                     212      0-0       22
23         Gannon                                    205      0-0       23
24         Missouri-St. Louis                    174      0-0       25
25         Cal State San Bernardino         89       0-0       RV

Others receiving votes and listed on two or more ballots:  Cal Poly Pomona 79; Central Washington 69; Indianapolis 57; Alaska-Anchorage 45; Central Missouri 39; Emporia State 37; Minnesota State 36; Findlay 27; Colorado-Colorado Springs 26; Colorado School of Mines 23; Post 22; Wayne State (Mich.) 21; Palm Beach Atlantic 20; Grand Valley State 18; Anderson (S.C.) 15; Lenoir-Rhyne 15; Oklahoma Baptist 11; Sioux Falls 11; Northern State 10; Minnesota Duluth 9; Colorado Mesa 6; Nova Southeastern 6; Dallas Baptist 3; Rockhurst 3
18 teams mentioned on only one ballot for combined 71 points.