OXFORD, Ohio. – Fresh off another championship season, the Indiana University Kokomo volleyball team has once again been selected as the favorite to capture the River States Conference title, as announced Thursday with the release of the 2026 RSC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
IU Kokomo received eight of a possible 10 first-place votes and 80 total points to claim the top spot in the preseason rankings. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods garnered the remaining first-place vote to finish second with 69 points, while Rio Grande also earned a first-place vote and placed third with 68 points.
The Cougars and 14th-year head coach Heather Hayes enter the 2026 campaign looking to build on one of the most successful seasons in program history. IU Kokomo finished 32-6 overall and posted a perfect 16-0 mark in River States Conference play, extending its conference regular season winning streak to 54 matches while capturing both the RSC regular season and tournament championships.
IU Kokomo also returned to the NAIA National Championship Final Site for the third consecutive season after sweeping through the conference tournament and defeating Reinhardt in the NAIA Opening Round. The Cougars earned a victory over Cornerstone at the final site before seeing their season come to a close against Indiana Wesleyan, finishing the year ranked No. 12 in the final NAIA Top 25 Poll.
Despite the graduation of one of the most accomplished senior classes in program history, the Cougars return a strong foundation with five student-athletes who earned All-River States Conference recognition during the 2025 season. That experienced core, paired with a talented group of newcomers, gives IU Kokomo the pieces to once again compete among the top programs in the River States Conference and on the national stage.
Conference play is set to begin Friday, Sept. 11, with the Cougars opening their River States Conference schedule at home. IU Kokomo will look to defend both its regular season and tournament championships while extending its conference regular season winning streak this fall.
2026 RSC PRESEASON VOLLEYBALL COACHES' POLL
- IU Kokomo (80 points, 8 first-place votes)
- Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (69 points, 1 first-place vote)
- Rio Grande (68 points, 1 first-place vote)
- IU East (52 points)
- IU Southeast (50 points)
- IU Columbus (47 points)
- WVU Tech (29 points)
- Kentucky Christian (19 points)
T9. Brescia (18 points)
T9. Midway (18 points)
For the latest news, updates, and information on the IU Kokomo Cougars, fans can visit IUKCougars.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Cougar news by following @IUKAthletics on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
