IRVINE, Calif. – Sophomore Outside Hitter Gabi Martinez has been selected for the 2026 All-Big West team, joining six other players from across the conference. The 2025 Freshman of the Year stands as the only sophomore on the team and collects her sixth Big West award with the nod. 

Martinez delivered a career-high 19 kills against CSUN and averaged 2.99 kills per set for the season, while also putting up 1.52 digs per set for 3.45 points per set. 

The Gauchos were also selected to finish third in the polls, following their fourth place finish during both the 2025 Championship and 2025 season, having gone 23-9.

Women's Volleyball will see their first action in The Grand Canyon State, heading over to the University of Arizona on Aug. 28 for a tournament. They will start against Tarleton State on Friday, Aug. 28 at 3:30 p.m.

The Gauchos will open at home on Thursday, Sept. 3 against Iowa State, and tickets can be purchased at ucsbgauchos.com.

2026 Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Cal Poly - 121 (11)
2. Long Beach State - 109
3.  UC Santa Barbara - 99
4. Utah Valley - 84 (1)
5. Sacramento State - 80
T-6. CSUN / UC Irvine - 64
8. UC San Diego - 60
9. California Baptist - 35
10. UC Riverside - 34
11. Cal State Fullerton - 24
12. Cal State Bakersfield - 18 

2026 Preseason Coaches Team
Kendall Beshear (Jr.) – Outside Hitter  – Cal Poly
Emma Fredrick (Sr.) – Outside Hitter – Cal Poly
Chloe Leluge (Jr.) – Middle Blocker – Cal Poly
Molly McCluskey (Jr.) – Outside/Opposite Hitter – UC San Diego
Victoria Marthaler (Jr.) – Outside Hitter – Sacramento State
Gabi Martinez (So.) – Outside Hitter – UC Santa Barbara
Madi Maxwell (Jr.) – Setter – Long Beach State