DENVER – Fresh off a historic national championship season, MSU Denver volleyball will begin the 2026 campaign ranked No. 3 in the AVCA-Taraflex Division II Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll, the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced.

The Roadrunners received 987 points in the preseason poll, including 18 first-place votes, placing them behind No. 1 Concordia-St. Paul (1,142 points, 18 first-place votes) and No. 2 Tampa (1,108 points, 10 first-place votes). Point Loma followed MSU Denver at No. 4 with 965 points.

MSU Denver enters the season with its highest expectations following a championship run that saw the Roadrunners capture the 2025 NCAA Division II national championship. The Roadrunners defeated Concordia-St. Paul 3-1 in the national championship match to claim the program's first national title.

The No. 3 preseason ranking places MSU Denver among the nation's top teams heading into its title defense and continues the program's standing as a national power.

The Roadrunners will open the 2026 season Aug. 27 against Ferris State in Big Rapids, Michigan. Ferris State is ranked No. 10 in the preseason poll with 763 points, setting up an early matchup between two nationally ranked programs.

MSU Denver will then turn its attention toward defending its Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title and making another run through the NCAA Division II postseason.

The Roadrunners were also selected tied for third in the 2026 RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, sharing the position with Colorado School of Mines with 165 points.