Gators Ranked No. 9 in Volleyball Magazine Preseason Poll
Thursday, August 6, 2009 | Volleyball
The University of Florida volleyball team, coming off a 27-4 record and an NCAA regional semifinal appearance in 2008, was ranked No. 9 in the Volleyball Magazine 2009 Women's College Preseason Top 20.
The magazine's top-five teams include two-time defending NCAA Champion Penn State (No. 1), 2008 NCAA semifinalist Texas (No. 2), 2008 NCAA semifinalist Nebraska (No. 3), Washington (No. 4) and 2008 NCAA runner-up Stanford (No. 5).
Florida's ranking marks the 13th year in a row that it has garnered a spot in the preseason top 10 of at least one of the major polls, a feat that only two other schools in the nation – Nebraska and Stanford – can claim.
The Gators are the only team in the Southeastern Conference to be ranked in the magazine's top-20 poll, although Kentucky is listed as receiving votes. Florida will square off with two top-five programs in No. 4 Washington and No. 5 Stanford during its 2009 pre-Southeastern Conference schedule.
Florida begins its 2009 season by hosting the Campus USA Credit Union Invitational in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center Aug. 28-29. The Gators' first match is set for 7 p.m. ET on Aug. 28 when they play host to UNLV.
The University of Florida is home to the 2009 NCAA Volleyball Regional. To order 2009 regular season and NCAA Regional tickets, log on to www.GatorZone.com/tickets. Follow Florida Volleyball on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GatorZoneVB and Coach Mary Wise on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GatorMary.
2009 VOLLEYBALL MAGAZINE PRESEASON TOP-20 POLL
1. Penn State
2. Texas
3. Nebraska
4. Washington
5. Stanford
6. Cal
7. Hawaii
8. Minnesota
9. FLORIDA
10. UCLA
11. Iowa State
12. Southern Cal
13. Illinois
14. Oregon
15. Michigan
16. San Diego
T17. Wichita State
T17. St. Louis
19. Utah
20. Santa Clara
Others Receiving Votes: Purdue, Pepperdine, Cal Poly, Kansas State, Kentucky, Long Beach State, Wisconsin, Colorado State, Louisville, Texas A&M, Duke.
END OF REPORT
