SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Pac-12 released its preseason predicted order of finish poll for volleyball on Tuesday, while returner Brooke Bentke and newcomers India Bennett and Jasmine Purakal were named to the 2026 Preseason Impact List.
The Bobcats were picked to finish third behind Colorado State and Oregon State after finishing 17-12 overall and 11-5 in Sun Belt play in 2025.
The predicted order of finish is as follows:
1. Colorado State
2. Oregon State
3. Texas State
4. Boise State
5. Washington State
6. Utah State
7. San Diego State
8. Gonzaga
9. Fresno State
Bentke returns for her fourth year at Texas State after playing 28 of the 29 matches in 2025. Across her 97 sets played, the senior recorded 109 kills, 13 service aces, 175 digs, and 25 total blocks. Bentke posted a season-high 11 kills on two separate occasions, against Coastal Carolina on Nov. 8 and in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament against Arkansas State on Nov. 22. While playing in the back row, Bentke posted six matches with double-digit digs including a career-high 18 digs against Incarnate Word on Sept. 13.
Purakal is no stranger to the spotlight after earning Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year after the 2025 season while playing at Robert Morris. The libero finished sixth in the nation in digs per set at a whopping 5.24 per set and finished seventh in total digs at 582. The fifth-year posted the most digs in a single match across all of the Horizon League on Oct. 18 against Northern Kentucky with 38. Alongside her 582 digs, Purakal notched 105 assists and 20 service aces in 108 total sets played.
Rounding out the Impact List for Texas State is fellow fifth-year, India Bennett. Bennett comes to San Marcos after earning First Team All-Southland Conference honors thanks to a season that saw the middle blocker finish seventh in the country in blocks per set at a staggering rate of 1.50. In addition, Bennett finished 42nd nationally in total blocks at 138, including 24 solo blocks and 114 block assists. Offensively, Bennett finished the season with 233 kills on a .305 hitting clip for a rate of 2.53 kills per set. During the season, the fifth-year posted a career-high 21 kills against Nicholls on Nov. 11 thanks to a blistering .690 hitting percentage. At the net, the Louisiana native posted two matches with double-digit blocks including a career-high 13 against Jackson State on Aug. 30.
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