INDIANAPOLIS – Rockhurst was voted in the preseason coaches’ poll as the choice to win the 2026 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) men's volleyball title, the league office announced on Tuesday.
The preseason poll is selected by the league’s head coaches, who, per GLVC Bylaws, are not permitted to vote for their own team.
No. 1 Rockhurst
- Received three first-place votes and 44 total points.
- The Hawks finished with a 19-11 overall record and advanced to the IVA (Intercollegiate Volleyball Association) semifinals in the team’s first year of competition.
- Corey Marks leads the Hawks in their second season of competition, and first in the GLVC.
- Rockhurst returns two Second Team All-IVA honorees in outside hitter Shay Spadaro and opposite hitter Lucas Tran.
- Spadaro led the Hawks in service aces (42), was second in kills (285), and third in digs (141)
- Tran led the Hawks in kills (299), and was fourth in digs (117)
No. 2 Maryville
- Received four first-place votes and 43 total points.
- Maryville recorded a 19-9 overall record and were runners-up in the 2025 IVA Tournament.
- Mike Haston enters his fifth season in charge of the Saints holding a 70-46 record.
- The Saints return libero Zac Clark and outside hitter Makai Scott.
- Clark led the Saints in digs with 240
- Scott was second on the team in kills (307) and digs (211)
No. 3 Missouri S&T
- Received one first-place votes and 38 total points.
- The Miners finished last season with an 11-14 record and advanced to the IVA semifinals.
- Ryan Thompson enters his third season in charge of the Miners holding a 21-2 overall record.
- The Miners return three All-IVA honorees in First Team outside hitter Nate Meyer, Second Team middle blocker Tyler Johnwick, and Honorable Mention opposite hitter Aaron Sallade.
- Meyer led the Miners in kills (270) and service aces (25), and was second in digs (163)
- Johnwick led the Miners in blocks (73), and hitting percentage (.448) and was fourth in kills (148)
- Sallade was second in kills (257), and third in blocks (49).
No. 4 Quincy
- Received 34 total points.
- Quincy is coming off an 8-19 record with a 3-3 record against current league opponents
- Led by Omar Sanchez, who enters his second season in charge of the Hawks.
- Quincy returns outside hitter Barnabas Fenyvesi who was second in kills (181), and third in digs (101) last season.
Rounding out the poll respectively in fifth through eighth was Roosevelt (22 points), Jamestown (18), Thomas More (14), and Southwest Baptist (11)
The complete poll and voting results can be found below.
2026 GLVC MEN'S VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL
| Place |
School |
Points (1st-Place Votes) |
| 1. |
Rockhurst |
44 (3) |
| 2. |
Maryville |
43 (4) |
| 3. |
Missouri S&T |
38 (1) |
| 4. |
Quincy |
34 |
| 5. |
Roosevelt |
22 |
| 6. |
Jamestown |
18 |
| 7. |
Thomas More |
14 |
| 8. |
Southwest Baptist |
11 |