ST. LOUIS, Mo. — With the beginning of the 2026 season on the horizon, Drake volleyball was voted No. 2 in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll, the league announced on Monday.
 
The Bulldogs, coming off a trip to the MVC Tournament championship match in 2025, received 96 total points in the poll and one place vote. Northern Iowa was voted as the top team in the league with 119 points and nine place votes. Valparaiso placed third with 88 points, while Belmont and UIC tied for fourth at 83 points with the Flames receiving one first place vote. Rounding out the top-six was Illinois State with 73 points.
 
The full list of the top-six poll selections can be found below.

The Bulldogs begin the regular season on their home court as they host the Drake Invitational August 28-29. Drake will face off against South Dakota on Friday and then follow with a doubleheader against DePaul and Milwaukee on Saturday.

2026 MVC Volleyball Preseason Poll
Number in parenthesis is the number of first-place votes
1. Northern Iowa (9) – 119 pts.
2. Drake (1) – 96 pts.
3. Valparaiso – 88 pts.
4. Belmont – 83 pts.
     UIC (1) – 83 pts.
6. Illinois State – 73 pts.