COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.  The University of Colorado Colorado Springs has been selected as the preseason favorite in the 2026 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the conference Tuesday. The RMAC also unveiled its 2026 Preseason All-RMAC Volleyball Team, featuring 14 student-athletes.

Once again this season, the RMAC's preseason teams were determined by placing returning players in order of the head coaches' voting from the league's 2025 All-RMAC Teams.

UCCS claimed the top spot in the Preseason Coaches' Poll with 187 points, receiving eight first-place votes, four second-place votes and one third-place vote. Colorado Mesa University followed in second with 169 points, while Colorado School of Mines and Metropolitan State University of Denver tied for third with 165 points each.

Colorado State University Pueblo rounded out the top five with 155 points. Colorado Christian University (125), Fort Lewis College (112), South Dakota Mines (107), Westminster University (83) and Regis University (67) completed the top 10.

Adams State University (62), New Mexico Highlands University (52), Western Colorado University (44), Black Hills State University (43) and Chadron State College (38) rounded out the 2026 Preseason Coaches' Poll.

The 14-member Preseason All-RMAC 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 squad, joined by five returning Second-Team All-RMAC honorees.

"We are looking forward to a new season, and new opportunities", Said Head Coach Sonia Morales-Jones. "This program has focused on culture building and growth from last year. We are excited to showcase it in a competitive environment."

Western will open the 2026 season at home on Thursday, August 27, at 6 p.m. as part of the Virginia Harris/Jeanie Miller Invitational. The Mountaineers will face Southwestern Oklahoma State University in their opening match before playing three additional matches throughout the invitational, which concludes Saturday, August 29.