STANFORD, Calif. – The Stanford women's volleyball team will begin the 2015 season ranked No. 2 nationally, the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced in its annual preseason poll today. The Cardinal is the only program in the nation to appear in the top 10 of every preseason poll since its inception in 1982.
Stanford, which received six first-place votes, returns three of its starters from last year's team that went 33-2, claimed its 16th Pac-12 title and advanced to a nation-best 19th Final Four. Stanford is one of two teams to appear in all 34 NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournaments.
The Cardinal returns 10 letterwinners to its roster from the 2014 team, including All-Americans Madi Bugg (AVCA First Team, Volleyball Magazine Third Team), Jordan Burgess (AVCA First Team, Volleyball Magazine Second Team) and Merete Lutz (AVCA Second Team, Volleyball Magazine Third Team). Also returning is senior outside hitter Brittany Howard, who is a three-time all-conference selection and a Final Four All-Tournament Team performer. The Cardinal will have to contend without senior middle blocker Inky Ajanaku, the 2014 Volleyball Magazine National Player of the Year and first team All-American, who suffered an injury while competing with the national team over the summer.
Defending national champion Penn State, earned the top spot in the poll with 54 first-place votes. Following the Cardinal were Texas, which garnered a first-place vote, and Florida. Nebraska and Wisconsin, which received the final first-place vote, tied for fifth.
Overall nine Pac-12 teams are ranked in the top 25, including No. 10 Washington, No. 13 Oregon, No. 16 Arizona State, No. 17 Arizona, Nov. 20 UCLA, Nov. 22 USC, No. 23 Utah and No. 24 Colorado, while Oregon State is receiving votes. The Cardinal is scheduled to play 17 regular-season matches against top-25 teams. It’s first six opponents are either ranked or receiving votes, including match-ups against top-ranked Penn State (Sept. 5), No. 7 North Carolina (Sept. 10), No. 8 Illinois (Sept. 4) and No. 25 Duke (Sept. 25).
Stanford opens the 2015 season at home for the first time since 2006 when it hosts Texas A&M, which is receiving votes, on Friday, Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. PT on the Pac-12 Networks. The Cardinal will also take on Minnesota on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 1 p.m. at Maples Pavilion. Season tickets for the Cardinal's 14 home matches are on sale now at gostanford.com or by calling 1-800-STANFORD.