Rainbow Warriors Ascend to No. 1
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Rainbow Warriors Ascend to No. 1

Hawaii jumps two spots to claim the top ranking, supplanting UCLA in a major reshuffle at the summit of men's volleyball.

D1Ball StaffMonday, July 20, 2026

The Rainbow Warriors (30-5) climbed from No. 3 to claim the top spot in the latest poll, displacing the Bruins (29-2), who dropped from first to third despite carrying just two losses on the season. Hawaii's 30-win campaign and late-season surge proved enough to convince voters that the throne now belongs to Manoa.

The Anteaters (21-9) authored the poll's biggest leap, surging from sixth to second — a four-spot jump that signals UC Irvine is peaking at exactly the right time. Meanwhile, the Cardinals (26-5) rose from seventh to fifth, quietly building a resume nobody wants to see in their bracket.

The Beach (25-5) and Waves (24-7) each slid two spots to fourth and sixth, respectively, while the Trojans (20-8) fell from fifth to seventh. What the poll makes clear: the race is wide open, and the team playing its best volleyball right now — not the team with the gaudiest record — is the one holding the No. 1 ranking.

Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.

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