BYU Men’s Volleyball: A Modern Era Dawns in the MPSF
The BYU Cougars men’s volleyball team is poised for a pivotal season as they navigate a revamped Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF). Coming off a third-place finish in the 2025 MPSF standings, the team has undergone significant roster changes and faces a league brimming with both familiar rivals and new contenders.
Roster Reset and a Focus on Physicality
BYU’s 2026 campaign features 11 new players joining the program, balancing losses from graduation, the transfer portal and missionary service. Head coach Shawn Olmstead believes this influx of talent will bring a new dynamic to the court. “This team is going to be one of the most exciting teams you’ve seen in a handful of years,” Olmstead stated on the “Y’s Guys” livestream show. “We’ve got some physicality across the board that we haven’t had for a long time.”
MPSF Evolution: New Faces, Familiar Challenges
The MPSF itself has undergone a transformation, adding four new NCAA Division II schools – Menlo College, Vanguard University, Jessup University, and the University of California, Merced – while Grand Canyon University discontinued its program. This expansion brings the league to an even 10 teams, creating a more competitive landscape.
UCLA Remains the Team to Beat
Despite the changes within the conference, preseason polls indicate UCLA remains the favorite to win the MPSF for a fifth consecutive year. The Bruins have historically dominated their series against BYU, winning eight of the last nine meetings. BYU was picked to finish fifth in the league, behind UCLA, Pepperdine, USC, and Stanford.
Olmstead acknowledges the team’s position in the preseason rankings, stating, “From the outside looking in, we lost big-time contributors… So that’s right where I would expect (to be picked).”
Key Dates and the Road to the MPSF Tournament
BYU will commence MPSF play on February 13-14 with a pair of matches against Menlo College at the Smith Fieldhouse. Their schedule includes non-conference contests against Lincoln Memorial, Harvard, and Merrimack before resuming MPSF competition against UC Merced and Jessup in early March. A challenging stretch follows, including road matches against Stanford and home contests against Concordia and Pepperdine, culminating in a regular-season finale against UCLA.
BYU will also host the MPSF tournament in April, providing a significant home-court advantage as they strive for a league title.
Olmstead’s Vision: Building Towards Postseason Success
Olmstead emphasizes the importance of preparing for the MPSF tournament. “Our slate with MPSF teams is really, really good,” he said. “And we’re hosting the MPSF tournament… So that’s a big thing we’re talking about, is getting our guys in a position through these matches over the next few months to be ready for that tournament come the end of April.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is the head coach of BYU men’s volleyball?
A: Shawn Olmstead.
Q: Where can I uncover more information about Shawn Olmstead?
A: You can find his profile on the BYU Athletics website: https://byucougars.com/staff/shawn-olmstead
Q: What was BYU’s record in the 2025 MPSF season?
A: BYU tied for third place in the 2025 MPSF season.
Q: Who was picked to win the MPSF in the preseason poll?
A: UCLA was picked to win the MPSF for the fifth year in a row.
Did you know? Shawn Olmstead has led BYU to three MPSF regular-season titles (2016-18) and three MPSF Tournament championships (2016, 2018, 2021).
Stay updated on BYU men’s volleyball throughout the season by following BYU Athletics and checking back for further coverage.
