LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky volleyball team enters the 2026 season ranked third in the American Volleyball Coaches Association preseason poll, according to an announcement by UK Athletics on Monday.

The Wildcats received four first-place votes in the preseason rankings, trailing only Nebraska, which earned the top spot with 57 first-place votes. Texas finished second with just one first-place vote.

Kentucky's 2026 schedule is particularly challenging, featuring matchups against 11 ranked teams from the preseason poll. The slate includes No. 4 Pittsburgh and No. 6 Wisconsin on opening weekend at the Jeep AVCA First Serve in Milwaukee. Seven of the non-conference opponents are ranked in the top 20, with five coming from the top 10 across three different conferences.

Head coach Craig Skinner, now in his 22nd season, led the Wildcats to the national championship game last December, where they finished 30-3 after losing to Texas A&M in the title match. The squad won the SEC regular season championship with a perfect 15-0 conference record and claimed the SEC tournament championship.

The Southeastern Conference placed five teams in the preseason rankings, with Texas at No. 2, Kentucky at third, Texas A&M at eighth, Florida at 17th and Tennessee at 21st.

Kentucky closes its exhibition schedule Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET against Dayton at Memorial Coliseum, with free admission and first-come seating. The Wildcats will open regular-season play Aug. 22 against Wisconsin in Milwaukee at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.