The Big Sky Conference announced its Preseason Coaches' Poll for the upcoming 2026 volleyball season, placing Northern Arizona Lumberjacks in second place, three points behind the frontrunner Northern Colorado. The Lumberjacks finished last season with a 23-7 overall record and a perfect 11-0 at home. Hanah Stoddard, an outside hitter for NAU, was named Preseason MVP and earned multiple honors from the previous season, highlighting her significant contributions. Additionally, teammate Gigi Greenlee garnered recognition on the Preseason All-Conference Team for her standout performance in the previous year.

By the Numbers
  • Northern Arizona finished 2025 with a 23-7 record and 13-3 in conference play.
  • Hanah Stoddard achieved 461 kills, leading her team, and ranked second in the Big Sky at 3.97 kills per set.
State of Play
  • The 2026 Big Sky Volleyball Championship will take place from Nov. 23-25 at Rolle Activity Center in Flagstaff, Arizona.
  • All 11 teams are set to kick off the 2026 season on Friday, Aug. 28.
What's Next

As the season starts, the Lumberjacks aim to capitalize on last year's success and leverage their strong returning players for a competitive edge in the upcoming matches.

Bottom Line

With a highly regarded roster, including Preseason MVP Stoddard, Northern Arizona is well-positioned to contend for another successful season, emphasizing their strengths on both offense and defense.