DALLAS – On Thursday, Conference USA unveiled its 2026 Preseason Volleyball Awards and Preseason Team. NM State is predicted to finish tied for third in a poll conducted by each of the league's 10 head coaches. In the same poll, Maggie Lightheart claimed one of the 12 spots on the All-CUSA Preseason Team.
In the conference's preseason poll, NM State was slated to finish tied for third in Conference USA after receiving 57 points in a vote conducted by the league's 10 head coaches. The Aggies tied with Kennesaw State for third place seated behind Liberty and the defending conference champion WKU.
Entering her senior season as a first time All-CUSA Preseason Team member, Lightheart was one of the conference's top all-around performers during the 2025 campaign. The senior led the Aggies in kills (355), points (445.5) and service aces (59) while adding 263 digs and 54 total blocks across 112 sets played. Her junior season earned her All-CUSA Second Team honors after she recorded 59 service aces, the second-most in a single season in program history. In 2023, Lightheart was recognized as one of the league's top newcomers earning a place on the CUSA All-Freshman Team.
Head Coaches' Poll - Predicted Order of Finish (First-Place Votes):
1. WKU (9) – 81
2. Liberty (1) – 67
T-3. NM State – 57
T-3. Kennesaw State – 57
5. FIU – 52
6. Missouri State – 43
7. Delaware – 40
T-8. Middle Tennessee – 18
T-8. Jax State – 18
9. Sam Houston – 17
2026 CUSA Volleyball Preseason Team:
Jillian Huckabey, FIU
Olivia Burrage, Kennesaw State
Carly O'Brien, Liberty
Jenna Otts, Liberty
Paige Overcash, Liberty
Hannah Gardner, Missouri State
Maggie Lightheart, NM State
Tayler Baron, WKU
Kaira Knox, WKU
*Alivia Skidmore, WKU
Izzy Van De Wiele, WKU
Faith Young, WKU
*2026 CUSA Preseason Player of the Year
Head Coach Mike Jordan, on the CUSA Volleyball Preseason Poll: "I'm not surprised by the preseason ranking. I think if we keep improving at the rate we are now, we'll be in the hunt at the end. We were in the championship match in 2023 and 24. This team has a chance to get there again."
The Aggies will kick off the season with an exhibition match against Western New Mexico on Saturday August 22, with the season officially commencing on August 28 with a home match against Tulsa.
Fans can purchase tickets through the Pan Am Ticket Office at 575-646-1420 or online when available.
For complete coverage of NM State Volleyball, follow us on Twitter (@NMStateVBall), Instagram (@NMStateVBall) and like us on Facebook (NM State Volleyball). You can also follow along with Aggie Volleyball via NMStateSports.com.
