ASHLAND – The Southern Oregon University beach volleyball team will begin the 2026 season with its highest ranking yet at No. 3 in the NAIA Top 10.

Defending national champion Ottawa (Ariz.) was No. 1 and Cascade Conference favorite Corban was No. 2 in the preseason coaches' poll, which was released Wednesday by the national office. After SOU, College of Idaho was the third CCC team listed at No. 8.

The Raiders started last year at No. 8 and ended it at No. 4 after advancing to the semifinal round of the NAIA Invitational and finishing with a 19-11 overall record.

The 2026 season will be the team's fourth since the program launched in 2022-23. Head coach Paul Elliott has six returning regulars from his five-pair lineup.

SOU plays its first counters Feb. 20 in Salem against Sacramento State and University of Portland, and is home for the first time Feb. 27 to face Simpson (Calif.).
 

#	SCHOOL [1st-place votes]	POINTS
1	Ottawa (Ariz.) [4]	65
2	Corban (Ore.) [2]	63
3	Southern Oregon	58
4	The Master's (Calif.)	54
5	Arizona Christian	50
6	Webber International (Fla.)	42
7	Mobile (Ala.)	40
8	College of Idaho	38
9	Hope International (Calif.)	32
10	Texas Wesleyan	25

Receiving Votes: Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.) 20, Loyola (La.) 19, Wayland Baptist (Texas) 15, William Carey (Miss.) 11, New College of Florida 10, La Sierra (Calif.) 6, Ave Maria (Fla.) 5