United Volleyball Conference institutions Vassar College, NYU, SUNY New Paltz, Hobart College, St. John Fisher University, MIT, and Nazareth University are represented in the 2026 National Volleyball Association (NVA)/American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Preseason Coaches Poll, released on Monday, Jan. 5.

Vassar is the highest ranked UVC team at No. 7, having earned 435 points in the preseason poll. The Brewers, who won the 2023 UVC Championship and advanced to the 2024 NCAA Championship match, finished 22-7 last season and earned an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. Vassar opens the 2026 season on Jan. 16-17 in California against No. 13 California Santa Cruz, No. 9 California Lutheran and Concordia University.

NYU, the two-time reigning UVC Champions, is right behind Vassar in the preseason poll at No. 8 with 409 points. NYU advanced to the NCAA National Quarterfinals and finished 26-1 last season. The Violets open the 2026 season on Jan. 16-18 in Santa Cruz, California with Vassar and play Concordia, No. 9 Cal Lutheran and No. 13 UC Santa Cruz.

SUNY Paltz is ranked No. 12 to start the season with 264 points. The Hawks, who won 14 matches last season, open the season St. Thomas Aquinas College on Jan. 19 and Kean University on Jan. 21 before a key match at No. 3 Juniata on Jan. 23.

Hobart, in its third season as a Division III program, is ranked 16th in the preseason poll with 101 points. St. John Fisher, the 2022 UVC Champion and two-time NCAA Tournament participant, who won 24 matches in 2025, opens the season ranked 17th in Division III with 89 points in the preseason poll. Hobart opens with three home matches against Russell Sage, No. 20 Misericordia and Hartwick College on Jan. 16-17, while St. John Fisher hosts Russell Sage on Jan. 17 and welcomes SUNY Poly and Nichols College to Manning-Napier Varsity Gym on Jan. 23.

MIT is 20th nationally with 67 points. The Engineers travel to SUNY Purchase on Jan. 16 and face Arcadia University and Rutgers-Newark on Jan. 17.

Nazareth University is just outside the top-20, with 32 points in the preseason poll. The Golden Flyers, who advanced to the 2025 UVC Championship match and won 19 matches, open the 2026 season in with three matches at SUNY Poly on Jan. 10-11, against Rivier, Lasell, and host SUNY Poly.