LEXINGTON, KY – Following its sixth consecutive NCAA Sweet 16 appearance, the Johns Hopkins women's volleyball program opens the 2026 season ranked 11^th in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Preseason Poll, announced Thursday.
 
Defending national champion Wisconsin-Oshkosh tops the poll after receiving 76 first-place votes. Trinity (Texas), a 2025 Final Four participant, ranks second, followed by fellow Final Four program Berry in third.
 
Other familiar names in the top 10 include East Texas Baptist, Colby, La Verne, Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Calvin – all of whom reached the Elite Eight last season.
 
With a strong blend of experienced upperclassmen, newcomers and a graduate transfer, Hopkins has added depth and versatility to its roster as it looks to make another deep postseason run.
 
The Blue Jays will ease into the 2026 campaign with three-early season matches before facing a high-stakes stretch that features back-to-back showdowns against No. 18 Ithaca and No. 20 Carnegie Mellon, followed by a trip out west for the Trinity (TX) Fall Classic. There, Hopkins will face second-ranked Trinity (TX) and 14^th-ranked Washington-St. Louis.
 
In total, the Blue Jays' schedule includes five additional opponents currently receiving votes in the AVCA poll: 12^th-ranked Juniata, Babson, St. John Fisher, Salisbury and Centennial Conference foe Franklin & Marshall.
 
2026 AVCA Preseason Poll Top 11
1. Wisconsin-Oshkosh (76 first-place votes) – 1,900
2. Trinity (TX) – 1,622
3. Berry – 1,600
4. East Texas Baptist – 1,556
5. Colby – 1,453
6. La Verne – 1,406
7. Wisconsin-Eau Claire – 1,290
8. Illinois Wesleyan – 1,215
9. Calvin – 1,177
10. MIT – 1,125
11. Johns Hopkins – 1,102