Unbeaten Nebraska Is No. 1 in the NCAA Volleyball Committee's First Top 16
The Huskers are perfect and ranked first by the people who build the bracket. Here is the early picture.
College volleyball has a clear front-runner. Unbeaten Nebraska earned the No. 1 spot in the NCAA Division I women's volleyball committee's first in-season top 16 of 2026.
The Top Five
| Rank | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Nebraska |
| 2 | Pitt |
| 3 | Kentucky |
| 4 | Wisconsin |
| 5 | Florida |
What the Top 16 Means
Unlike media polls, the committee's top 16 comes from the same group that selects and seeds the NCAA Tournament. It is a preview of how the committee would seed the bracket if the tournament started today. The top 16 seeds earn the right to host early-round matches, a major advantage in a sport where home crowds can swing tight sets.
Nebraska's Perfect Run
Nebraska is college volleyball royalty, known for some of the biggest crowds in the sport and a passionate fan base. Staying unbeaten deep into the season puts the Huskers in prime position for the No. 1 overall seed and a home path through the early rounds.
The Challengers
- Pitt has become one of the most consistent programs in the country.
- Kentucky and Florida give the SEC two teams in the top five.
- Wisconsin gives the Big Ten a second heavyweight alongside Nebraska.
Women's Sports Are Having a Moment
Nebraska's run is part of a huge year for women's sports in America. The WNBA Finals are drawing record attention, the NWSL just changed its star player rule, and the WTA Finals are coming to California.
On the college side, basketball season is about to tip off. Read our college basketball preseason preview, and follow the volleyball season in our volleyball coverage.
Background from Wikipedia
Nebraska Cornhuskers women's volleyball
The Nebraska Cornhuskers women's volleyball team competes as part of NCAA Division I, representing the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the Big Ten Conference. Nebraska played nearly four decades at the NU Coliseum until they moved to the larger Bob Devaney Sports Center in 2012. The program has been led by Dani Busboom Kelly since she succeeded longtime head coach John Cook in 2025.
The program became an official varsity sport in 1975 and has become one of the most decorated in women's volleyball – Nebraska has won more games, spent more weeks ranked number one, and produced more AVCA All-Americans than any other program.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is No. 1 in college volleyball?
Unbeaten Nebraska is No. 1 in the NCAA Division I women's volleyball committee's first in-season top 16 of 2026.
Who is in the NCAA volleyball top 5?
Nebraska, Pitt, Kentucky, Wisconsin and Florida lead the committee's first top 16.
What is the NCAA volleyball committee's top 16?
It is an in-season preview from the selection committee showing how it would seed the top teams if the NCAA Tournament started that day.
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