SMU Volleyball Reaches No. 5, Highest Ranking In Program History

DALLAS, Texas (TXAN 24) — SMU volleyball has reached a new program milestone.

The Mustangs climbed to No. 5 in the latest AVCA-Taraflex Division I Women’s Volleyball Poll released Monday, Sept. 14, marking the highest ranking in program history.

SMU jumped two spots after knocking off two top-10 opponents in the same week. The Mustangs defeated No. 9 Texas in their home opener Wednesday before traveling to the Bahamas and taking down No. 3 Kentucky in the Paradise Invitational on Saturday.

The previous program record was No. 7, a ranking SMU reached three times last season.

SMU has now been ranked in 32 consecutive AVCA polls dating back to the third week of the 2024 season.

The Mustangs have three ranked victories to open the 2026 season, including a season-opening sweep of then-No. 8 Texas A&M on Aug. 23 at the AVCA First Serve. All three wins have come against programs that finished among the SEC’s top three in last year’s regular-season standings.

SMU will close its non-conference schedule this week against Rice on Thursday, Sept. 17, at 6:30 p.m. CT in Fort Worth before hosting Yale Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Mustangs open conference play Sept. 25 at home against Stanford.