LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The first Pacific West Conference preseason poll of the 2026-27 season has arrived, with women's volleyball kicking off the new school year.  The Vanguard Lions were selected to finish sixth in the upcoming campaign after receiving 50 points in the voting process.  This is the highest that VU has been placed in the preseason rankings since entering the PacWest.
 
Point Loma racked up seven of the 10 first-place votes to top the poll with 95 points, with Chaminade next with 89 points and two first-place votes.  Hawaii Hilo had the final first-place vote and 77 points to land in third.  CUI had 59 points to end in fifth, with Westmont seventh with 42 points.
 
Vanguard gets the year going at CSU San Bernardino for the Coyote Classic, with four teams on the docket.  Cal Poly Pomona received votes in the first AVCA coaches' poll, unofficially voted as #26 in Division II, while CSUSB was picked as #25.  Saint Martin's (Wash.) and CSULA round out the opening weekend slate.  PLNU is fourth in the country entering 2026 and is the lone PacWest school in the opening poll.  The Blue and Gold host Menlo, CSU Monterey Bay, and CSU Dominguez Hills on September 4-5 to kickoff the home slate for the year.