Bruins Picked First in MPSF Preseason Coaches' Poll
December 11, 2025 | Men's Volleyball
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA men's volleyball program was picked to win a fifth-straight regular-season conference title in the 2026 MPSF Men's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' poll, the conference announced on Thursday.
UCLA, under second-year head coach John Hawks, return three-time AVCA First-Team All-American setter Andrew Rowan, and two-time AVCA All-Americans Zach Rama and Cameron Thorne.
The 21-time national champion Bruins, who have made the national championship match in each of the last three seasons, open the 2026 season with a home match against McKendree on January 9 in Pauley Pavilion, presented by Wescom Financial.
In addition to the always competitive Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) contests, the 2026 Bruin regular-season slate features non-conference battles with Ball State and Loyola Chicago at the First Point Challenge in Phoenix, Arizona on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18. After a home contest with Fort Valley State on Jan. 22, the Bruins hit the road for a match at UC San Diego on Jan. 23.
To conclude January, the Bruins will host Ohio State in Pauley Pavilion on Jan. 29. UCLA will open February at Long Beach on Feb. 6, before traveling to Vanguard on Feb. 7. The Bruins then return home to play CSUN on Feb. 13.
The Bruins will travel to UC Santa Barbara on Feb. 25, play at UC Irvine on Feb. 27, before heading across town to take on USC on March 4.
The Bruins will host USC for the return match on Friday, March 6, before hitting the road for the remainder of the month.
UCLA will head to Hawaii for the Outrigger Tournament hosted by Hawai'i, March 12-14. The Bruins will play Lewis on March 12, Mt. Olive on March 13, and then take on Hawai'i to conclude the tournament on March 14.
After the Hawai'i trip, the Bruins jump back into conference play to close the regular season calendar. UCLA travels to Stanford for two matches in the Bay Area, March 27 and 28, before returning to Los Angeles to play at Pepperdine on April 2. UCLA returns to Pauley Pavilion on April 4 for the second match against Pepperdine before hitting the road to take on UC Merced on April 9 and 10, as well as Menlo on April 12.
The Bruins conclude regular-season play by hosting BYU on April 16 and 18.
BYU will then host the 2026 MPSF Tournament from April 22-25, with the winner earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship Tournament.
UCLA, under second-year head coach John Hawks, return three-time AVCA First-Team All-American setter Andrew Rowan, and two-time AVCA All-Americans Zach Rama and Cameron Thorne.
The 21-time national champion Bruins, who have made the national championship match in each of the last three seasons, open the 2026 season with a home match against McKendree on January 9 in Pauley Pavilion, presented by Wescom Financial.
In addition to the always competitive Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) contests, the 2026 Bruin regular-season slate features non-conference battles with Ball State and Loyola Chicago at the First Point Challenge in Phoenix, Arizona on Jan. 17 and Jan. 18. After a home contest with Fort Valley State on Jan. 22, the Bruins hit the road for a match at UC San Diego on Jan. 23.
To conclude January, the Bruins will host Ohio State in Pauley Pavilion on Jan. 29. UCLA will open February at Long Beach on Feb. 6, before traveling to Vanguard on Feb. 7. The Bruins then return home to play CSUN on Feb. 13.
The Bruins will travel to UC Santa Barbara on Feb. 25, play at UC Irvine on Feb. 27, before heading across town to take on USC on March 4.
The Bruins will host USC for the return match on Friday, March 6, before hitting the road for the remainder of the month.
UCLA will head to Hawaii for the Outrigger Tournament hosted by Hawai'i, March 12-14. The Bruins will play Lewis on March 12, Mt. Olive on March 13, and then take on Hawai'i to conclude the tournament on March 14.
After the Hawai'i trip, the Bruins jump back into conference play to close the regular season calendar. UCLA travels to Stanford for two matches in the Bay Area, March 27 and 28, before returning to Los Angeles to play at Pepperdine on April 2. UCLA returns to Pauley Pavilion on April 4 for the second match against Pepperdine before hitting the road to take on UC Merced on April 9 and 10, as well as Menlo on April 12.
The Bruins conclude regular-season play by hosting BYU on April 16 and 18.
BYU will then host the 2026 MPSF Tournament from April 22-25, with the winner earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship Tournament.
| Rank, Team | Votes (first-place) | 2025 Overall Record |
| 1. UCLA | 75 (4) | 22-7, 10-2 MPSF |
| T2. Pepperdine | 72 (4) | 21-10, 7-5 MPSF |
| T2. USC | 72 (2) | 21-7, 8-4 MPSF |
| 4. Stanford | 54 | 13-15, 4-8 MPSF |
| 5. BYU | 52 | 19-10, 7-5 MPSF |
| 6. Concordia | 37 | 10-19, 3-9 MPSF |
| 7. Menlo | 31 | 13-13, 7-5 MPSF |
| 8. Vanguard | 26 | 8-18, 2-10 MPSF |
| 9. Jessup | 18 | 15-9 |
| 10. UC Merced | 13 | 10-14 |
Players Mentioned
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