RIO GRANDE VALLEY – UTRGV was picked to finish second in the 2026 Southland Conference volleyball preseason poll, receiving three first-place votes and 113 points.
Stephen F. Austin, the reigning conference tournament champion, led the poll with eight first-place votes and 118 points. UTRGV and Stephen F. Austin shared the 2025 regular-season championship and met in the conference tournament final.
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi was selected third with 89 points and one first-place vote. Southeastern placed fourth with 88 points, followed by Lamar with 87 and UIW with 86.
Houston Christian was seventh with 57 points, and East Texas A&M took the eighth projected tournament position with 49. McNeese, LSU New Orleans, Nicholls and Northwestern State completed the poll.
Each Southland school submitted a ballot through its coaches or sports information staff. Voters ranked 11 opponents and were not permitted to place their own team on the ballot. Eight teams qualify for the conference tournament.
UTRGV opens the season Aug. 28 at West Virginia. The Vaqueros begin Southland play Sept. 23 at McNeese.
The 2026 Southland tournament is scheduled for Nov. 20-22 in Corpus Christi. UTRGV said season tickets and multi-sport passes are available through its ticket office.
The preseason poll measures expectations before competition begins and does not determine tournament seeding. Regular-season results will decide which eight teams advance to Corpus Christi.
