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STANFORD, Calif. – The Stanford women's volleyball team will begin the 2016 season ranked No. 11 nationally, the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced in its annual preseason poll today. The Cardinal has been ranked in every AVCA preseason poll since its inception in 1982.
Stanford, which received a first-place vote, returns three starters plus its libero from last year's team that finished third in the Pac-12 and 23-7 overall. Stanford is one of two teams to appear in all 35 NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournaments.
The Cardinal returns 10 letterwinners to its roster from the 2015 team, including Inky Ajanaku (three-time All-American), who is back after sitting out the 2015 campaign due to injury, Hayley Hodson (AVCA National Freshman of the Year) and Merete Lutz (two-time All-American). Also contributing significant playing time in 2015 were Kelsey Humphreys, Ivana Vanjak and Halland McKenna. Additionally, Stanford's freshmen were ranked the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation by PrepVolleyball.com.
Defending national champion Nebraska, earned the top spot in the poll with 60 first-place votes. Sitting ahead of the Cardinal is No. 2 Texas, which secured the final three first-place votes, No. 3 Minnesota, No. 4 Wisconsin, No. 5 Kansas, No. 6 Hawaii, tied for No. 7 USC and Washington, No. 9 Penn State and No. 10 Florida.
Overall four Pac-12 teams are ranked in the top 15, including No. 12 UCLA, while Oregon, Arizona and Arizona State are receiving votes. The Cardinal is scheduled to play 10 regular-season matches against top-25 teams. It's first five opponents are either ranked or receiving votes, including match-ups against No. 3 Minnesota (Aug. 28), No. 9 Penn State (Sept. 4), No. 14 Illinois (Sept. 3) and No. 20 Purdue (Sept. 10).
Stanford opens the 2016 season at home for the second straight year when it hosts San Diego, which is receiving votes, on Friday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. at Maples Pavilion. The Cardinal will also take on third-ranked Minnesota on Sunday, Aug. 28 at 1 p.m. on Pac-12 Network. Season tickets for the Cardinal's 14 home matches are on sale now at gostanford.com or by calling 1-800-STANFORD.