Lead Image by Karen Ambrose-Hickey/ISIPhotos.com
STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford is ranked 11th in the 2016 preseason national coaches poll, as announced Sunday by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women.
Eight of the Cardinal's 10 regular season meets will feature at least one top-30 opponent, including three top-10 teams.
Stanford received 1839 votes in the national coaches poll to join Pac-12 counterparts UCLA (No. 4), Utah (No. 5), California (No. 10), Oregon State (No. 13), Arizona (No. 18) and Washington (No. 20) in the top 25.
Stanford returned to the NCAA Championships for the 13th time in the past 16 years in 2016, with two gymnasts combining for five first-team All-America honors. The Cardinal finished fourth at the NCAA Championships Semifinals last season.
Stanford is one of seven teams in the nation to make at least seven Super Six appearances in the past 15 years (2002-16).
The Cardinal returns All-America gymnasts, Elizabeth Price and Nicolette McNair, along with a group of experienced returners and a talented freshman class.
NACGC/W Coaches Preseason Poll
1. Oklahoma (2519 points) (47 first place votes)
2. LSU (2412 points) (11 first place votes)
3. Alabama (2336 points) (5 first place votes)
4. UCLA (2328 points) (5 first place votes)
5. Florida (2291 points) (2 first place votes)
6. Utah (2246 points) (2 first place votes)
7. Michigan (1972 points)
8. Auburn (1918 points)
9. Georgia (1910 points)
10. California (1844 points)
11. Stanford (1839 points)
12. Nebraska (1765 points)
13. Oregon State (1601 points)
14. Denver (1433 points)
15. Boise State (1400 points)
16. Minnesota (1357 points)
17. Arkansas (1344 points)
18. Arizona (1330 points)
19. Missouri (1242 points)
20. Washington (1197 points)
21. Kentucky (1084 points)
22. Iowa (1019 points)
23. Penn State (1017 points)
24. Illinois-Champaign (947 points)
25. George Washington (837 points)
26. Southern Utah (789 points)
27. Ohio State (758 points)
28. Michigan State (550 points)
29. West Virginia (494 points)
30. Utah State (417 points)
31. Central Michigan (410 points)
32. Kent State (404 points)
33. North Carolina State (400 points)
34. Eastern Michigan (383 points)
35. New Hampshire (349 points)
36. BYU (316 points)