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IRVINE, CALIF.\u2014\u00a0The 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<\/a> was selected as a member of the conferences’ preseason team after earning All-Big West Honorable Mention last season.
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\nIn 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).
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\nIn 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.\u00a0
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\nLong 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).\u00a0
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\nUnder the direction of first-year head coach Spencer McLachlin<\/a>, 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.\u00a0
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\nUC 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.
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\n2026 Big West Women’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll<\/p>\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tRank
\n\t\t\tInstitution
\n\t\t\tPoints
\n\t\t\tFirst Place Votes
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\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t1
\n\t\t\tCal Poly
\n\t\t\t121
\n\t\t\t11
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t109
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t3
\n\t\t\tUC Santa Barbara
\n\t\t\t99
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t4
\n\t\t\tUtah Valley
\n\t\t\t84
\n\t\t\t1
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t5
\n\t\t\tSacramento State
\n\t\t\t80
\n\t\t\t\u00a0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tT-6
\n\t\t\tCSUN
\n\t\t\t64
\n\t\t\t\u00a0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tT-6
\n\t\t\tUC Irvine
\n\t\t\t64
\n\t\t\t\u00a0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t8
\n\t\t\tUC San Diego
\n\t\t\t60
\n\t\t\t\u00a0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t9
\n\t\t\tCalifornia Baptist
\n\t\t\t35
\n\t\t\t\u00a0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t10
\n\t\t\tUC Riverside
\n\t\t\t34
\n\t\t\t\u00a0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t11
\n\t\t\tCal State Fullerton
\n\t\t\t24
\n\t\t\t\u00a0
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t12
\n\t\t\tCal State Bakersfield
\n\t\t\t18
\n\t\t\t\u00a0
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\n2026 Big West Women’s Volleyball Preseason Team<\/p>\n