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IRVINE, CALIF.— The Big West has released its 2026 Women’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll and Big West Preseason Team, as determined by the conferences’ 12 head coaches. Junior opposite Molly McCluskey was selected as a member of the conferences’ preseason team after earning All-Big West Honorable Mention last season.
In 2025, McCluskey finished first in the Big West in total points (449.0) and total kills (392) for the regular season. She also ranked fourth in total attacks (1,033) and fifth in kills per set (3.41). The Costa Mesa native led the Tritons in points, kills and service aces (27), finishing second in blocks (55.0) and third in digs (244).
In their final year as a member of the Big West, the Tritons were picked to finish eighth in the preseason poll with 60 points. Cal Poly led the group with 121 points and 11 of the 12 first-place votes in the Big West’s newly formatted 12-team conference.
Long Beach State ranked second with 109 points and UC Santa Barbara rounded out the top three with 99 points. Big West newcomers Utah Valley (84 points) and Sacramento State (80) were picked to finish fourth and fifth respectively, with UVU receiving the remaining first-place vote. CSUN and UC Irvine tied for sixth with 64 points each, followed by the Tritons, newcomer California Baptist (35), UC Riverside (34), Cal State Fullerton (24) and Cal State Bakersfield (18).
Under the direction of first-year head coach Spencer McLachlin, UC San Diego will begin the 2026 season on the road in the Bay Area with the season opener at future WCC foe, Saint Mary’s on Aug. 28.
UC San Diego will return eight Tritons from its 2025 squad, including Big West Honorable Mention McCluskey who led the conference in total points and kills last season. The Tritons will also welcome 10 talented newcomers to their roster, including five transfers and five true freshmen.
2026 Big West Women’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Rank
Institution
Points
First Place Votes
1
Cal Poly
121
11
2
Long Beach State
109
3
UC Santa Barbara
99
4
Utah Valley
84
1
5
Sacramento State
80
T-6
CSUN
64
T-6
UC Irvine
64
8
UC San Diego
60
9
California Baptist
35
10
UC Riverside
34
11
Cal State Fullerton
24
12
Cal State Bakersfield
18
2026 Big West Women’s Volleyball Preseason Team
Name
School
Pos.
Yr.
Kendall Beshear
Cal Poly
OH
Jr.
Emma Fredrick
Cal Poly
OH
Sr.
Chloe Leluge
Cal Poly
MB
Jr.
Molly McCluskey
UC San Diego
OPP
Jr.
Victoria Marthaler
Sacramento State
OH
Jr.
Gabi Martinez
UC Santa Barbara
OH
So.
Madi Maxwell
Long Beach State
S
Jr.
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era in NCAA Division I. The 24-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 39 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world’s preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II.