A trio of area squads is ranked in the initial Prep Media volleyball polls of the season.
Warner is rated second in Class B followed by Northwestern in third. Clark-Willow Lake is rated fourth in Class A Hamlin is receiving votes in Class A.
All four teams competed in last year’s state tournament.
Top-rated teams to start the season are last year’s defending champions: Harrisburg in AA, Dell Rapids in A, and Chester Area in B.
Here is the South Dakota Media preseason volleyball poll for the 2026-27 season. Teams are listed with first place votes in parenthesis, final 2025 records, points and final 2025 poll ranking.
CLASS AA
1. Harrisburg (6) 35-2 30 1
2. O’Gorman 26-5 21 2
3. Brandon Valley 27-4 20 3
4. S.F. Lincoln 21-6 8 4
5. S.F. Washington 18-9 7 5
RECEIVING VOTES: Watertown (22-11) 3; S.F. Jefferson (13-14) 1
CLASS A
1. Dell Rapids (3) 29-7 26 2
2. S.F. Christian (1) 27-11 24 3
3. Dakota Valley (2) 34-3 22 1
4. Clark-Willow Lake 27-2 8 4
5. St. Thomas More 30-11 7 NR
RECEIVING VOTES: Hamlin (22-6) 2; Wagner (24-10) 1
CLASS B
1. Chester Area (4) 33-1 28 1
2. Warner (2) 33-7 26 3
3. Northwestern 37-3 14 2
4. Bennett County 37-7 13 RV
5. Parkston 31-8 4 RV
RECEIVING VOTES: Colman-Egan (22-7) 3; Gayville-Volin (32-5) 1; Harding County (28-6) 1
