Which volleyball teams kept their rosters together for 2026-27? We compared this season's rosters with last season's for every programme we track, and some teams brought back almost everyone. At the top of Division I, Northern Iowa brought back 16 of its 18 players. The average D1 volleyball team brought back 58%.
Why does this matter if you are being recruited? A team that brings back nearly everyone has fewer spots for the next class. A team that brought back fewer players usually has more room. Knowing which is which before you email a coach saves you time and makes your emails land.
Division I: most players back
Out of 261 D1 programmes with 12 or more players and a new 2026-27 roster:
- T1. Northern Iowa: 16 of 18 players back (89%)
- T1. South Dakota: 16 of 18 players back (89%)
- 3. Northern Kentucky: 13 of 15 players back (87%)
- T4. Furman: 15 of 18 players back (83%)
- T4. Indiana State: 15 of 18 players back (83%)
- T4. North Carolina: 15 of 18 players back (83%)
- T7. Belmont: 14 of 17 players back (82%)
- T7. Louisiana: 14 of 17 players back (82%)
- T9. Marist: 15 of 19 players back (79%)
- T9. Santa Clara: 15 of 19 players back (79%)
- T9. Southern Miss: 15 of 19 players back (79%)
See each team’s full roster by position and class, plus the head coach’s email.
Try it free for 3 daysD2: most players back
The top of 131 D2 programmes (average: 59% back):
- T1. Bemidji State: 14 of 16 players back (88%)
- T1. Saint Michael's: 14 of 16 players back (88%)
- 3. IUP: 16 of 19 players back (84%)
- 4. Chico State: 13 of 16 players back (81%)
- T5. Anderson: 16 of 20 players back (80%)
- T5. Chestnut Hill: 12 of 15 players back (80%)
D3: most players back
The top of 135 D3 programmes (average: 62% back):
- 1. Wooster: 15 of 17 players back (88%)
- 2. Salve Regina: 14 of 16 players back (88%)
- T3. John Carroll: 18 of 21 players back (86%)
- T3. Carleton: 12 of 14 players back (86%)
- 5. Centre: 17 of 20 players back (85%)
NAIA: most players back
The top of 35 NAIA programmes (average: 55% back):
- 1. Cornerstone: 15 of 19 players back (79%)
- T2. Carroll: 11 of 14 players back (79%)
- T2. Master's: 11 of 14 players back (79%)
- T4. Central Methodist: 13 of 18 players back (72%)
- T4. Evangel: 13 of 18 players back (72%)
- T4. Northwestern: 13 of 18 players back (72%)
What to do with this list
If one of these teams is on your list, it is not a reason to cross it off - but look closely at your position. Even a team that brought back almost everyone may be losing seniors where you play. The opposite is true too: a team with lots of new faces may still be full at your position.
How we counted
We compared every 2026-27 roster we hold with the same team's 2025-26 roster, matching players by name. A team is only ranked if its 2026-27 roster is clearly the new season's: it lists freshmen, at most half of last season's seniors are still on it, and at least 70% of returning players moved up a class. Teams need 12 or more players. Every team named here was checked against its live roster page on 12 October 2026; four teams whose page had changed since were left out. Seniors include graduate students.
Find the teams with room for you
Calldup shows every roster we hold by position and class, so you can see which teams have seniors leaving at your position, then email the head coach in one tap. Start a 3-day free trial at calldup.com.