The 2026 season runs on rookies. College volleyball freshmen are starting from week one, setting offenses, and swinging in the biggest matches — not waiting their turn. Nebraska, Texas, Kentucky, Stanford, Pitt, Penn State, and Wisconsin all signed blue-chip classes. Those rookies are already on the floor.
No program makes the point better than Rhode Island. The Rams opened 3-0 for the first time in 12 years — not since 2014 — and freshmen were at the center of it. Cara Richter put down 14 kills against Central Connecticut. Carly Thomas handed out 18 assists. Grace Keaney added nine. Those aren’t veteran numbers. Those are freshmen.
In this guide, I break down the 2026 college volleyball freshmen who matter most right now. I cover Rhode Island’s six signees and their impact through the season’s opening weeks, then tour the classes at the top-25 programs worth watching. You get verifiable names, numbers, and records — plus a read on which schools built rosters for this year and the next three.
Why Freshmen Matter More in 2026
The class rankings back it up. Nebraska brought in a top-ranked class under head coach Dani Busboom Kelly, ranked No. 2 nationally by Volleyball Adrenaline. Wisconsin’s announced signees drew a No. 2 class ranking from PrepVolleyball. Penn State’s haul came in at No. 3 for PrepDig. These aren’t depth pieces. They’re the plan.
Start with the full opening-week recap from Aug. 30, then read on for the results.
Rhode Island’s Freshmen Are Already Starting
Rhode Island announced six signees on May 20, 2026: outside hitters Sophia Chinetti and Cara Richter, setters Jahan Lalli and Carly Thomas, defensive specialist Kiara Copeland, and right-side/middle Grace Keaney. Transfer Emily Sawyer came from Sacred Heart.
Three of them cracked the starting lineup immediately. Against Central Connecticut on Aug. 30, URI ran out Richter, Thomas, and Keaney as starters and won 3-1. Per the signing announcement: Richter was All-Ohio second team in 2025 with 1,000+ career kills; Lalli was the 2025 MaxPreps Best Volleyball Player in Georgia with 2,333 career assists; Thomas set school career, season, and single-match assist records at Kingwood (Texas), finishing with 1,944 assists, 136 aces, 381 kills, and 558 digs; Keaney was a three-time All-State pick who helped Yarmouth to Class B state titles in 2022 and 2023.
These six weren’t signed for the bench. URI rebuilt its playmaking around them, and the early games show it.
The 78-Point Set That Put URI’s Rookies on the Map
On Sept. 5, Rhode Island took Brown to a five-set thriller that ended 2-3, and the fourth set made history. The teams combined for 78 points — a Keaney Gymnasium record and the most Rhode Island has ever played in a single set, per the official recap. The prior mark was 72 in a 37-35 set at George Washington in 2023.
Two freshmen carried the load. Setter Jahan Lalli made her first career start and finished with a double-double — 18 assists and 11 digs, her second of the season. Fellow setter Carly Thomas added 18 assists, six digs, and two aces. Grace Keaney chipped in six kills and five block assists. The Brown recap confirms it.
The result shows the ceiling: URI opened 3-0 for the first time since 2014, then lost three straight to finish the Ocean State Cup at 3-3. That split is the launch you want to see from a team rebuilding with rookies.
Nebraska, Texas, Kentucky: The Elite Classes, Program by Program
Nebraska. The No. 1 Cornhuskers brought in a deep class — Robinson (6-3 outside), DiVita (6-1 outside), and Williams (6-4 middle) all early-enrolled. It’s the first class of the Busboom Kelly era, ranked No. 2 nationally by Volleyball Adrenaline.
Texas. The Longhorns signed four freshmen, all listed on the 2026 official roster: setter Genevieve Harris (No. 5, from Raleigh, North Carolina), defensive specialist Emma Cugino, outside Henley Anderson, and middle Camille Presley. Texas entered the season as the AVCA preseason No. 2.
Kentucky. The Wildcats added a five-freshman class, per head coach Craig Skinner, headlined by middle blocker Saylors and outside hitter Beus — the Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year, a UA All-American, and an early enrollee. Setter Prihoda and defensive specialist Burley round out a group built for the long run.
Stanford, Pitt, Penn State: Powerhouse Freshman Hauls
Stanford. The No. 4 Cardinal brought in a versatile four: Hickman (6-5 opposite), Udoye (6-2 outside), Andrews (6-4 middle), and Roslon (5-11 outside), all on the official roster.
Pittsburgh. The No. 2 Panthers signed the highest-ranked class in program history, headlined by outside hitter Ayanna Watson — the No. 5 national recruit — and 6-6 opposite Jessica Smallwood. Setter Izzy Starck is a junior transfer rather than a freshman — a reminder that not every new face is a rookie.
Penn State. The No. 13 Nittany Lions stacked four rookies: middle Northern (the Ohio Player of the Year and a PrepDig No. 13), setter Whitmire (PrepDig No. 4 and a USAV U19 national team member), outside Burgdorf (the Illinois Player of the Year, PrepDig No. 29), and outside Krystkowiak (PrepDig No. 10). PrepDig ranked the class No. 3 nationally.
Two more: Louisville, at No. 6, signed five freshmen led by 6-5 middle/opposite Amirra Bailey and swept Texas 3-0 on Sept. 6. Florida added outside hitter Nadi’ya Shelby, an early enrollee.
2026 College Volleyball Freshmen: The Data Table
Here’s how the biggest 2026 freshman classes stack up, with verified roster and ranking data; rankings follow the AVCA Top 25.
| Team | AVCA Rank | Freshmen Signed | Early Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | Unranked | 6 (2 OH, 2 S, 1 DS, 1 RS/MB) | 3 starters; first 3-0 start since 2014 |
| Nebraska | No. 1 | Robinson, DiVita, Williams | All early-enrolled; Adrenaline No. 2 class |
| Texas | Preseason No. 2 | Harris, Cugino, Anderson, Presley | All on 2026 active roster |
| Kentucky | No. 3 | Saylors, Beus, Prihoda, Burley (+1) | Beus: Idaho Gatorade POY, early enrollee |
| Stanford | No. 4 | Hickman, Udoye, Andrews, Roslon | 4-deep size: 2 players 6-3 or taller |
| Pittsburgh | No. 2 | Watson, Smallwood (+3) | Watson: No. 5 national recruit |
| Penn State | No. 13 | Northern, Whitmire, Burgdorf, Krystkowiak | PrepDig No. 3 class; 2 state POYs |
| Wisconsin | No. 5 | Flanagan, Tarnow, Scott, Thompson (+5) | 9 rookies on roster; PrepVolleyball No. 2 |
How to Watch These Freshmen for Yourself
You don’t need a scouting service to follow the 2026 rookie wave. Wisconsin’s roster lists every freshman with height, hometown, and role. gorhody.com match recaps show who started and who produced.
Watch the playmakers first. Setters dictate tempo, and URI’s Lalli and Thomas combined for 36 assists in that Brown match. Track middles and opposites for length — Wisconsin carries nine rookies, including 6-5 Tarnow. Freshman middles often need a semester to adjust.
The Week of Sept. 6 results show the top five shaking out alongside these classes. For how the poll works, see our guide to the AVCA Top 25.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the top 2026 college volleyball freshman classes?
Nebraska (No. 2 per Volleyball Adrenaline), Wisconsin (No. 2 per PrepVolleyball), and Penn State (No. 3 per PrepDig) drew the highest national class rankings. Rhode Island’s six-signee group stands out for how quickly its freshmen earned a role in the lineup.
How many freshmen does Rhode Island have in 2026?
Six freshmen made the 2026 roster: Sophia Chinetti, Cara Richter, Jahan Lalli, Carly Thomas, Kiara Copeland, and Grace Keaney. They joined transfer Emily Sawyer in URI’s seven-player class announced May 20, 2026. Three of the six opened the season as starters.
Which URI freshmen are starting?
At least three freshmen started for URI during its opening weekend: outside hitter Cara Richter, setter Carly Thomas, and right-side/middle Grace Keaney. Setter Jahan Lalli made her first career start against Brown on Sept. 5 and turned in a double-double.
What is the record for points in a volleyball set?
The NCAA women’s record is 90 points, reached twice — Santa Clara vs. Saint Mary’s in 2017 and Washington vs. Washington State in 2021. Rhode Island’s 78-point set against Brown on Sept. 5 was its program record, beating a 72-point set from 2023.
Can a college volleyball freshman play right away?
Yes. Freshmen are eligible to compete right away in their first NCAA season, and this year’s rookies have seized the chance. URI started the season with three freshmen in its lineup, and at Texas, freshman outside hitter Henley Anderson started in the preseason — proof that rookies don’t have to wait.
For the conference picture behind these programs, see our Big Ten vs. SEC vs. ACC power ranking.
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