1/8/2026
Pride claim top spot as new season approaches
Springfield College has been selected first in the AVCA Division III Men’s Volleyball Preseason Poll released January 5, earning 588 points from the national voting body. Carthage College follows in second place with 533 points. Juniata College claimed third with 499 points, while Southern Virginia University, the 2025 NCAA Division III National Champion, earned 471 points for fourth place.
The preseason poll features 20 ranked teams plus additional programs receiving votes, establishing the national landscape as the 2026 Division III men’s volleyball season begins.
Top Ten Overview
Messiah University placed fifth with 449 points, followed by Stevens Institute of Technology in sixth with 441 points. Vassar College earned seventh place with 435 points. New York University claimed eighth with 409 points.
California Lutheran University placed ninth in the preseason poll with 374 points. Aurora University rounds out the top ten with 335 points.
Championship Contenders
Springfield College enters the 2026 season as the preseason favorite. The Pride have established themselves as one of Division III’s premier programs with consistent national ranking status and championship-level performance.
Carthage College holds the second position in the preseason poll. The Firebirds won consecutive NCAA Division III National Championships in 2022 and 2023, establishing the program as one of Division III’s elite.
Southern Virginia University enters the 2026 season as the defending NCAA Division III National Champion after claiming the 2025 title. However, the Knights’ fourth-place preseason ranking reflects significant roster turnover, as the program lost nearly every starter to graduation from their championship team.
UVC Strength
The United Volleyball Conference demonstrates significant strength in the preseason poll with multiple ranked teams. Vassar (seventh), NYU (eighth), SUNY New Paltz (12th), Hobart (16th), St. John Fisher (17th), and MIT (19th) all earned top-20 recognition, with Nazareth receiving votes as well.
The conference’s depth reflects its status as one of Division III’s strongest men’s volleyball leagues, consistently placing multiple teams in national rankings. This will be the UVC’s last season before transitioning teams join other conferences (NEWMAC, AMCC, etc…).
NACC Representation
The Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference earned representation with Aurora (10th) in the top ten and multiple programs receiving votes. Benedictine (Illinois) leads teams receiving votes with 45 points, while MSOE earned 28 points and Dominican 10 points.
The NACC’s competitive balance and multiple nationally ranked programs demonstrate the conference’s growing strength in Division III men’s volleyball.
Notable Rankings
Wentworth earns 11th with 272 points, UC Santa Cruz placed 13th with 253 points, while Loras College earned 14th with 133 points. Baldwin-Wallace University claimed 15th place with 120 points.
North Central (Illinois) placed 18th with 78 points, while Misericordia University rounded out the top 20 with 62 points.
Teams Receiving Votes
Additional programs listed on two or more ballots include Lasell (43 points), Rutgers-Newark (37), Mount Union (34), Nazareth (32), MSOE (28), Nichols (21), Randolph-Macon (20), Marymount (14), Baruch (7), Buffalo State (7), and Wittenberg (3).
The extensive list of teams receiving votes reflects the depth of Division III men’s volleyball, with numerous programs capable of competing at the national level.
Season Context
The 2026 season begins in mid-January with programs scheduling non-conference competition before conference play commences in February. The preseason poll provides an initial benchmark for national rankings, though positions will shift throughout the season based on match results.
NCAA Tournament selection occurs in April following conference tournament championships, with automatic qualifiers from conferences and at-large selections determined by the NCAA selection committee.
Historical Perspective
Springfield’s top ranking reflects the program’s sustained excellence and championship pedigree. The Pride have consistently competed at the highest levels of Division III men’s volleyball, with multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and strong recruiting classes maintaining program competitiveness. Last season, the Pride pushed through to the national championship game before dropping to SVU.
Carthage’s second-place ranking demonstrates the Firebirds’ continued elite status. The program won consecutive NCAA Division III National Championships in 2022 and 2023, establishing Carthage as a perennial national power. Owen Otto will not be available this season due to injury but Ball State transfer Ryan Bartz hopes to fill the OH1 spot admirably.
Southern Virginia’s fourth-place ranking as defending national champion reflects the competitive nature of Division III men’s volleyball, where championship programs face challenging schedules and strong competition from multiple teams seeking national titles.
Conference Championships
Multiple conferences feature representation in the top 20, demonstrating the geographic diversity and competitive strength across Division III men’s volleyball. The UVC, NACC, CVC, MAC, CCIW, and other conferences contribute ranked programs, creating compelling conference races throughout the season.
Conference tournament championships provide automatic NCAA Tournament berths, while regular season success factors into at-large selection considerations. The preseason poll establishes initial expectations for conference races and national championship contenders.
Looking Ahead for the 2026 Season
The 2026 season features compelling storylines, including Springfield’s pursuit of a national championship from the preseason top spot, Carthage’s continued championship aspirations, and Southern Virginia’s defense of their 2025 national title.
Multiple conferences feature ranked teams competing for championships, while programs receiving votes seek to break into the top 20 through strong early-season performances. The depth of Division III men’s volleyball ensures competitive matches throughout the season as teams pursue conference titles and NCAA Tournament berths.