FARMINGTON, Utah – The Idaho State women's tennis team was tabbed to finish fifth in the 2026 Big Sky Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the conference Wednesday morning.
The Bengals earned 35 points in the preseason voting, placing them fifth among the league's nine programs. Sacramento State University was picked as the preseason favorite, collecting eight first-place votes, while Northern Arizona University, University of Idaho, and Montana State University rounded out the top four.
Idaho State enters the 2026 season looking to exceed its preseason projection in a Big Sky Conference that features tight margins throughout the standings. The middle of the poll was closely contested, underscoring the league's overall depth heading into the spring.
The Bengals will open the season with two difficult tests, at Boise State on Jan. 18th and at the University of Utah on Jan. 24th. The Bengals then host BYU on Jan. 31st followed by a non-conference match against Montana on the next day, on Feb 1st.
Idaho State goes on a one-match road trip to Utah State on Feb. 7th then host Colorado Mesa for a doubleheader the very next day, Feb. 8th, at 9 AM & 1 PM.
The Bengals travel to St. George, UT for a neutral site match against the North Dakota State Bison on Feb 16th, then play host school, Utah Tech on Feb. 16th.
Idaho State returns home to Reed Gym to host the College of Idaho on Feb. 27th, before heading back on the road, at Lewis-Clark State College on March 14th. The Bengals then begin Big Sky play at Idaho on March 15th.
Idaho State continues conference action at home against Weber State on March 22nd, then travel to California for their final non-conference match of the year, at UC Davis on March 28th. ISU wraps up the brief two-match road stint at Sacramento State on March 29th.
The Bengals host Montana State on April Fools Day, April 1st, followed by their final road match of the season, at Montana on April 5th.
ISU wraps up their regular season on April 10th vs Eastern Washington, and April 12th vs Portland State.
At the end of the regular season the top 6 teams in the Big Sky standings will qualify to go to the Big Sky Championships in Phoenix, AZ. The tournament runs April 23rd through April 26th. Idaho State is seeking their fourth trip in the last five seasons to the Big Sky's post-season Championships.
Idaho State will close the year with a stretch that includes multiple conference matchups down the final weeks of the schedule, positioning the Bengals to make a push toward postseason play as the Big Sky season reaches its conclusion.
The full preseason voting results can be found below.
2026 Big Sky Women's Tennis Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Sacramento State (8) – 64
2. Northern Arizona (1) – 56
3. Idaho – 50
4. Montana State – 39
5. Idaho State – 35
6. Montana – 26
7. Portland State – 24
8. Eastern Washington – 19
9. Weber State – 11
