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The 2026 College Volleyball Programs Losing the Most Seniors

If you're a club coach, parent, or athlete planning a 2026 or 2027 recruiting push, senior departures are your first breadcrumb trail. When experienced players graduate, scholarships, walk-on slots, and meaningful playing time open up. With 2025 rosters already finalized across 1,031 NCAA women's volleyball programs inside Rosterhunter, we can spotlight where those seniors are set to leave the biggest gaps before the 2026 season tips off.

Key takeaways

  • 296 teams (28.7%) are losing five or more seniors, creating immediate roster openings across Division I, II, and III
  • Power programs like Texas A&M (52.9% senior share), Northwestern, and Marquette are losing 8+ veterans, signaling high-major playing time opportunities
  • Division I programs average 3.78 seniors (22.1% share), Division II average 3.55 (21.1%), and Division III average 3.44 (20.4%)
  • Early outreach in August-September gives recruits a significant advantage before coaches' inboxes flood during peak recruiting season
  • Position-specific analysis via Rosterhunter's filters helps athletes identify where their skills match graduating senior roles

Quick Reference: Key Data Points

In this analysis

Why Senior Departures Matter

In college volleyball recruiting, senior departures equal roster openings. Each senior class that walks on senior night represents a scholarship or walk-on slot opening for the next wave of recruits—and families who understand the numbers get in front first.

The Recruiting Advantage of Tracking Seniors

  • Early identification: Senior-heavy depth charts force coaching staffs to replace experience fast—often long before a roster update hits the public site. Athletes who track these openings early have months of lead time over competitors who wait for official announcements.
  • Position-specific targeting: Tracking graduation counts by position lets athletes, parents, and club staffs prioritize outreach where depth charts thin out the most. If you're a setter and a program is graduating three senior setters, that's a clear signal of need.
  • Coach relationship building: Early insight means you can get on a call list before inboxes overflow during spring evaluation. Coaches remember proactive recruits who reach out before the rush.
  • Scholarship optimization: Programs losing multiple seniors often have scholarship dollars to redistribute. Understanding these turnover patterns helps families identify both need-based and merit-based financial aid opportunities.

How We Built the 2026 Senior Watchlist

To isolate the true 2026 openings, we audited 2025 rosters—the most recent season on record—and tagged the senior column for every NCAA women's volleyball team across all three divisions.

Methodology

Our analysis process included:

  1. Data collection: Filtered all women's volleyball programs by 2025 roster data across Division I, Division II, and Division III (total: 1,031 programs)
  2. Senior identification: Counted graduating seniors on each roster and calculated senior share using the formula: (seniors ÷ full roster) × 100
  3. Threshold setting: Flagged programs graduating five or more seniors as high-opportunity targets, recognizing that 3-4 seniors is typical for most programs
  4. Cross-verification: Cross-referenced senior counts with roster graduation years to ensure accuracy

Key Definitions

Results Summary

  • 296 teams (28.7%) will lose five or more seniors, representing significant roster turnover
  • Top outlier: University of Lynchburg leads with 12 seniors (50% of roster)
  • Power conference impact: Multiple Power 5 and high-major programs appear in the Top 25, creating rare opportunities for elite recruits

Top 25 Volleyball Programs Losing Seniors in 2026

Below are the 25 programs with the largest senior classes on their 2025 rosters. Each listing links directly to the live Rosterhunter profile so you can dive into positional needs, and contact info in seconds.

Rank Program Division Conference Seniors Roster Size Senior Share
1 University of Lynchburg Division III ODAC 12 24 50%
2 University of North Carolina Asheville Division I Big South 11 29 37.9%
3 Jacksonville State University Division I CUSA 10 20 50%
4 Emory University Division III UAA 10 22 45.5%
5 Loras College Division III American Rivers 10 24 41.7%
6 Texas A&M University Division I SEC 9 17 52.9%
7 North Carolina Central University Division I MEAC 9 19 47.4%
8 Florida Tech Division II Sunshine State 9 20 45%
9 Greensboro College Division III USA South 9 20 45%
10 University of St. Thomas - Minnesota Division I Summit League 9 21 42.9%
11 Franklin College Division III HCAC 9 30 30%
12 University of Dubuque Division III American Rivers 9 32 28.1%
13 Rockford University Division III NACC 8 16 50%
14 Marquette University Division I Big East 8 17 47.1%
15 Limestone University Division II SAC 8 17 47.1%
16 Northwestern University Division I Big Ten 8 18 44.4%
17 SUNY University at Albany Division I America East 8 18 44.4%
18 Mount Saint Mary College - New York Division III Skyline 8 18 44.4%
19 Colorado Christian University Division II RMAC 8 19 42.1%
20 Ohio Dominican University Division II G-MAC 8 19 42.1%
21 Nova Southeastern University Division II Sunshine State 8 20 40%
22 Southern University & A&M College Division I SWAC 8 21 38.1%
23 Thiel College Division III PAC 8 21 38.1%
24 Fairleigh Dickinson University Division I NEC 8 22 36.4%
25 California State University - Los Angeles Division II CCAA 8 23 34.8%

Top 25 Insights: What Stands Out

Power programs under pressure: Texas A&M University, Northwestern University, Marquette University, and University of St. Thomas - Minnesota are all losing eight or more veterans, signaling immediate high-major playing time for setters, pins, and defensive specialists. These Power 5 and high-major programs rarely see this level of turnover, making 2026 a unique opportunity for elite recruits.

Sunshine State surge: Florida Tech and Nova Southeastern University give Sunshine State Conference recruits multiple high-turnover options, both with 40%+ of their rosters graduating. Regional athletes in Florida and the Southeast should prioritize these programs for 2026-2027 recruiting.

Division III volatility: University of Lynchburg, Emory University, and Loras College headline five DIII programs with nine or more seniors, rare turnover for leagues that traditionally cycle talent slowly. Division III programs typically have lower turnover rates, so these outliers represent exceptional opportunities for academically-focused athletes.

Conference clusters: Multiple programs from the same conferences appear in the Top 25 (Big South, CUSA, UAA, American Rivers, Sunshine State), suggesting systemic recruiting opportunities within specific geographic or academic regions.

Division Breakdown: Where 2026 Openings Concentrate

Senior share rarely cracks 25% nationally, yet the averages hide sizable pockets of opportunity.

Action Plan: What This Means for 2026 and 2027 Recruits

Step 1: Identify Your Target Programs

  1. Start with the Top 25: Review programs in the rankings above that match your academic profile and geographic preferences
  2. Expand your search: Use Rosterhunter's filters to find all 296 programs with 5+ seniors graduating
  3. Filter by division: Match your competitive level (D1, D2, or D3) and academic focus
  4. Check position needs: Use position-specific filters to identify where your skills fit departing senior roles

Step 2: Prepare Your Outreach Materials

Before contacting coaches, ensure you have:

  • Updated highlight reel: Latest game footage showcasing your current skills
  • Academic profile: GPA, test scores, and course list ready to share
  • Competition schedule: Upcoming tournaments and showcases where coaches can see you play
  • Personal statement: Brief explanation of why you're interested in their program

Step 3: Make Contact Strategically

  • Prioritize high-impact programs: Start with Power 5 and high-major programs losing 8+ seniors (Texas A&M, Northwestern, Marquette, etc.)
  • Personalize each message: Reference specific senior departures and roster openings from their Rosterhunter profile
  • Follow up consistently: Track all communication in Rosterhunter's recruiting board
  • Include family support: Have parents or club coaches ready to assist with scheduling and logistics

Step 4: Leverage Position-Specific Data

Programs losing multiple seniors at one position create the most opportunity:

  • Setters: Programs losing 2+ senior setters need immediate replacements
  • Outside Hitters: The most common position, but high senior counts still indicate need
  • Middle Blockers: Specialized position where departures create clear openings
  • Liberos/Defensive Specialists: Programs value defensive depth from senior departures

Pro Tip: Pair this senior data with Rosterhunter's roster analysis tools. View four-year roster charts to see graduation patterns and identify programs likely to need your position in 2027 as well.

Step 5: Plan Campus Visits

Programs with high senior turnover often host larger recruiting visits to replace graduating classes. Plan unofficial visits during:

  • Fall 2025: During active season to see team culture
  • Spring 2026: During evaluation periods when coaches make offers

Recruiting Timeline: When to Take Action

Timing matters in college volleyball recruiting. Here's when to leverage this data:

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Data Methodology: This analysis is based on verified 2025 roster data from 1,031 NCAA women's volleyball programs tracked in Rosterhunter's database. Senior counts reflect players in their fourth year of eligibility (or fifth year for redshirt seniors) who will graduate after the 2025 season. Data was collected and verified as of October 2025.

About This Analysis

This data analysis was compiled by the Rosterhunter Insights team to help college volleyball recruits, parents, and coaches make data-driven recruiting decisions. We analyzed complete 2025 roster data across all three NCAA divisions to identify programs with the highest senior turnover—indicating the greatest roster openings for 2026-2027 recruits.

"We built Rosterhunter to make recruiting transparent. Instead of guessing where spots open up, players can see the numbers. Every roster tells a story—and we help athletes read it."
— Mira Solis, Editor-in-Chief, Rosterhunter Insights

Last Updated: October 29, 2025
Data Source: Rosterhunter database (1,031 verified NCAA women's volleyball programs)
Next Update: This analysis will be refreshed with 2026 roster data after the 2026 season concludes

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