Rockhurst Women's Volleyball was picked second in this year's GLVC preseason poll, presented by Primo Designs. The Hawks match their highest selection since 2021 when the Hawks were picked second in the GLVC Western Division.
 
RU received two first-place votes and 153 total points, finishing just behind Missouri-St. Louis who garnered 11 first-place votes and 166 total points. Indianapolis was picked third in the preseason poll with one first-place vote and 145 total points, followed by Quincy with 128 total points.
 
The Hawks also received votes in the Preseason AVCA-TARAFLEX Preseason DII Poll for the first time since 2024.
 
Trent Jones enters his seventh season as the Hawks' head coach. Last season, Rockhurst finished 22-11 overall and 11-2 in the GLVC, earning the program's fifth-straight 20-win season and 11^th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. 

"Coming into this season, I am excited to see how we can come together and continue to build on the success of the program's past,"
Jones said. "We have a lot of returners with a decent amount of experience sprinkled in with some new faces. It will be fun to watch them come together as the season goes along."
 
Rockhurst returns a strong group of veterans in 2026 despite losing Sarah Pyle, who received AVCA All-America Honorable Mention, AVCA and D2CCA All-Region First Team, and All-GLVC First Team honors. The Hawks' top returner is junior Delaney Hope who enters the season after earning AVCA All-America Honorable Mention, AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention, D2CCA All-Region First Team, and All-GLVC First Team honors as a sophomore. 
 
Hope led Rockhurst in hitting percentage last season and finished tied for eighth in the GLVC in blocks during conference play. She totaled more than 100 blocks on the season, ranking fifth overall in the conference.

Hope will be joined by a veteran senior class that includes Avery DeLong, Alyssa McDonald, Jaicee Corcoran, Molly Trachta and Ali Olson, while the Hawks also welcome senior transfer Bailey Donnelly to the roster. Rockhurst also returns sophomore libero Katie Vargo and junior outside hitter Chloe Tyrrell.

Trachta returns for her senior season after earning All-GLVC Second Team recognition a year ago. She finished eighth in the conference in assists and ninth in service aces during GLVC play, providing a consistent presence around the net for the Hawks throughout the season.
 
"It is always nice to have veterans returning to the team," Jones said. "They help lay the foundation for what is expected and how we do things around here. It will be important to show the newcomers what our expectations are and what it means to represent Rockhurst University and the volleyball program."

Rockhurst begins the season at the Colorado School of Mines (CSM) Orediggers Classic on Friday in Golden, Colorado. The Hawks face against Colorado Colorado Springs at 2:30 p.m. MT and Cal State Dominguez Hills at 6:30 p.m. MT.
 
Rockhurst closes the weekend on Saturday against Flagler at 11:30 a.m. MT and Colorado School of Mines at 3:30 p.m. MT.
 
After the CSM Orediggers Classic, Rockhurst travels to the Fairfield Inn Griffon Volleyball Classic from Sept. 4-5 in St. Joseph, Missouri. The Hawks take on Southwest Minnesota State on Sept. 4 at 1:30 p.m. and then Northern State (1:30 p.m.) and Missouri Western (6:30 p.m.) on Sept. 5.
 
RU's next four games will be at home inside Mason-Halpin Field House. The Hawks face Northwest Missouri State on Friday, Sept. 11 and Saturday, Sept. 12 before Central Missouri on Sept. 15. Rockhurst then opens conference play against crosstown rival William Jewell on Sept. 18.

The Hawks are seeking to earn their first GLVC Regular Season Championship since 2019 when they won the GLVC Western Division and their first conference tournament championship since 2021. 

"There is always an expectation to go to postseason and win," Jones said. "This team is very different than last year as is every year. I think last year's success will allow us to be more comfortable in big matches and not let the moment feel too big."

2026 GLVC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL

Place	School	Points (first-place votes)
1.	Missouri – St. Louis	166 (11)
2.	Rockhurst	153 (2)
3.	Indianapolis	145 (1)
4.	Quincy	128
5.	Maryville	119
6.	Lewis	116
7.	Truman State	92
8.	Drury	88
9.	Illinois Springfield	71
10.	Missouri S&T	60
11.	McKendree	55
12.	Southwest Baptist	36
13.	Upper Iowa	31
14.	William Jewell	14