LEXINGTON, Ky. – With the 2026 regular season just 11 days away, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) released its preseason coaches' poll Monday, with Angelo State volleyball checking in at No. 21 nationally.

The Belles are the second-highest-ranked team from the Lone Star Conference and the third-highest-ranked program in the South Central Region. West Texas A&M is the highest-ranked LSC team, while MSU Denver leads the region at No. 3 nationally.

Three opponents on Angelo State's 2026 schedule also appear in the preseason poll. MSU Denver enters the season ranked No. 3, followed by West Texas A&M at No. 19 and Bentley at No. 22.

Angelo State finished the 2025 season ranked No. 24 nationally after posting a 26-8 overall record. The Belles captured both the LSC regular-season and tournament championships before advancing to the NCAA South Central Regional final, where they fell to eventual national champion MSU Denver.

The Belles begin the 2026 campaign at home on Friday, Aug. 28, when they host the Kathleen Brasfield Invitational inside the Junell Center/Stephens Arena. Angelo State will face East Central, Fort Lewis, MSU Moorhead and CSU Pueblo across the two day tournament.