FARMINGTON, Utah (Aug. 26, 2026) – The 2026 Big Sky volleyball season officially opens on Friday, with all 11 teams in action this weekend.
Below are news & notes from around the league for Big Sky volleyball.
Northern Colorado Picked as Preseason Favorites by League Coaches
Northern Colorado was named preseason favorites by the league's head coaches after winning the Big Sky tournament a season ago. The Bears look to make a run behind their two preseason All-Conference team selections Alayna Tessena and Nerea Alvarez Jorge.
Northern Colorado earned the top spot in the poll after collecting four first-place votes and a league-leading 83 points, edging out Northern Arizona by just three points, who also compiled four first-place votes. Montana collected a pair of first-place votes and found themselves deadlocked with Idaho State at third. In their first season in the league, Utah Tech got the final first-place vote.
NAU's Hanah Stoddard Tabbed as Preseason MVP by League Coaches
Northern Arizona's Hanah Stoddard headlines the preseason All-Conference Team, earning preseason MVP honors. Stoddard played a crucial role in securing the Lumberjacks' regular-season title last year after recording a career-best 461 kills over 30 matches, which ranked second in the league. Defensively, she also tabbed 376 digs and 24 total blocks. The Co-MVP from a season ago also earned AVCA All-American honorable mention honors.
Southern Utah and Utah Tech Join the Big Sky in 2026
Southern Utah and Utah Tech were officially welcomed as members of the Big Sky Conference this past summer, as the addition of the Thunderbirds and Trailblazers give the Big Sky 11 volleyball squads for the 2026 season. The 2026 season will mark SUU’s return to the Big Sky after being a volleyball member from 2012-21, while the year will be UTU’s inaugural season in the league.
2026 Big Sky Volleyball Tournament Hosted in Flagstaff
The 2026 Big Sky Volleyball Championship, hosted by Northern Arizona, will be held in Flagstaff, Arizona on Nov. 23-25. The Lumberjacks earned the right to host the 2026 championship tournament by winning last fall's regular-season title. The 2026 tournament will be the first in Flagstaff since 2015.
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2026 Big Sky Volleyball Schedule (Week 1)
Friday, Aug. 28
Idaho State vs Stephen F. Austin // 9:00 a.m. MT
Northern Arizona vs LMU // 11:00 a.m. MT
Utah Tech at Utah Valley // 11:00 a.m. MT
Idaho vs Towson // 12:00 p.m. MT
Idaho State vs Missouri State // 1:00 p.m. MT
Montana vs Central Washington // 1:00 p.m. MT
Southern Utah vs Gonzaga // 3:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Eastern Washington vs North Dakota // 4:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Utah Tech vs Oregon State // 4:00 p.m. MT
San Francisco at Weber State // 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Portland State at Portland // 7:00 p.m. MT
Saturday, Aug. 29
Montana State vs Delaware // 9:00 a.m. MT
Utah Tech vs Utah // 1:00 p.m. MT
Eastern Washington vs Chicago State // 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
San Jose State at Weber State // 1:30 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Idaho at Missouri // 5:00 p.m. MT (SEC+)
Northern Arizona at Ole Miss // 5:00 p.m. MT (SEC+)
Montana State at Lafayette // 5:00 p.m. MT (YouTube)
Idaho State at Wichita State // 5:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
UC Davis at Northern Colorado // 6:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Montana at Washington State // 6:00 p.m. MT (YouTube)
Belmont at Weber State // 7:30 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Southern Utah at Saint Mary's // 8:00 p.m. MT
Sunday, Aug. 30
Montana State vs Marist // 8:30 a.m. MT (YouTube)
Northern Arizona vs Southeastern Louisiana // 9:00 a.m. MT
Idaho vs Western Illinois // 10:30 a.m.
Southern Utah at Pacific // 12:00 p.m. MT
Nevada at Portland State // 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)
Eastern Washington at Seattle // 2:00 p.m. MT (ESPN+)