Lebanon, Tenn. - - For the second year in a row Cumberland men's volleyball were selected third in the River States Conference Preseason, announced by the league on Thursday.
Men's volleyball will begin the season ranked third place, behind Campbellsville and Georgetown. The team finished the 2025 campaign 19-12 and 9-7 in their initial season in the RSC.
Although Campbellsville fell to Georgetown in the RSC championship last year, they have been tipped as the favorites to finish first in the conference in the preseason coaches poll. The Tigers wrapped up the conference going 14-2 and were 23-8 overall. With nine players returning, Campbellsville will be pushing for the championship and trying to gain a place at the national tournament for the first time since 2022.
Georgetown gained the second place spot, after claiming back to back conference championships. Georgetown went 15-1 in the conference. For the second year in a row the Phoenix take up the third place spot, they are joined by Oakland City as both teams received 43 points.
St. Mary-of-the-Woods jumps sits in the middle in the fifth spot, while Rio Grande and Brescia take sixth and seventh respectively. IU East placed in eighth, and Midway in ninth to conclude the preseason poll.
Rio Grande will travel to Midway on February 18 to open conference play. February 20 and 21 will see four more games take place with IU East, Georgetown, Brescia, and St. Mary-of-the-Woods all hosting. The RSC tournament will take place April 14-18 with the top seed hosting the semi-finals and championship game.
The Phoenix first home game will take place on February 21 as they host St. Mary-of-the-Woods at the Dallas Floyd Phoenix Arena.
2026 RSC Preseason Men's Volleyball Coaches Poll
1. Campbellsville (61 points, 5 first place votes)
2. Georgetown (60 points, 4 first place votes)
t3. Cumberland (43 points)
t3. Oakland City (43 points)
5. St. Mary-of-the-Woods (38 points)
6. Rio Grande (25 points)
7. Brescia (24 points)
8. IU East (22 points)
9. Midway (8 points)
