Long Beach State University Athletics
Women’s Volleyball Picked To Finish Second In the Big West
8/21/2026 9:58:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Junior setter Madi Maxwell was selected Preseason All-Big West as the women’s volleyball season begins next week.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Big West announced both the Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll and the Preseason All-Big West team, and Long Beach State was prominently featured in both as an exciting season is about to get under way.
Long Beach State was picked to finish second among the 12 teams in the Big West this upcoming season, as the Beach welcomes three new programs in Utah Valley, Sacramento State and California Baptist while bidding farewell to UC Davis and Hawai'i.
The Beach placed third last season in the Big West, finishing 22-9 overall and 14-4 in Big West play in the second season under head coach Natalie Reagan. This season, the Beach was picked to finish in second place, one of just two teams to receive over 100 points in a clear second pick behind Cal Poly, the defending Big West Championship winners who received 11 first-place votes.
LBSU finished in front of UC San Barbara, newcomers Utah Valley and Sacramento State as well as the rest of the conference.
The Beach returns four starters from last season, including Second Team All-Big West selection Madi Maxwell. Maxwell, a junior setter, was the only setter chosen for the seven-player Preseason Coaches Team, which featured three players from Cal Poly as well as Molly McCluskey of UC San Diego, Victoria Marthaler of Sacramento State, and Gabi Martinez of UC Santa Barbara.
Long Beach State begins the 2026 season with an exciting first weekend, playing a home-and-home series with UCLA beginning on August 28. The first match will be held at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid, before the teams head to Pauley Pavilion for the second match on Saturday, August 29.
Long Beach State was picked to finish second among the 12 teams in the Big West this upcoming season, as the Beach welcomes three new programs in Utah Valley, Sacramento State and California Baptist while bidding farewell to UC Davis and Hawai'i.
The Beach placed third last season in the Big West, finishing 22-9 overall and 14-4 in Big West play in the second season under head coach Natalie Reagan. This season, the Beach was picked to finish in second place, one of just two teams to receive over 100 points in a clear second pick behind Cal Poly, the defending Big West Championship winners who received 11 first-place votes.
LBSU finished in front of UC San Barbara, newcomers Utah Valley and Sacramento State as well as the rest of the conference.
The Beach returns four starters from last season, including Second Team All-Big West selection Madi Maxwell. Maxwell, a junior setter, was the only setter chosen for the seven-player Preseason Coaches Team, which featured three players from Cal Poly as well as Molly McCluskey of UC San Diego, Victoria Marthaler of Sacramento State, and Gabi Martinez of UC Santa Barbara.
Long Beach State begins the 2026 season with an exciting first weekend, playing a home-and-home series with UCLA beginning on August 28. The first match will be held at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid, before the teams head to Pauley Pavilion for the second match on Saturday, August 29.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's VolleyballSunday, September 22
Sunday, September 22
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Saturday, September 21
