STANFORD, Calif. – The Stanford men's volleyball team opens the 2018 season ranked eighth in the AVCA preseason poll, the organization announced today. It marks the 11th straight season the Cardinal has been ranked in the preseason poll.
Stanford returns 14 players from the 2017 roster, including All-Americans Evan Enriques and Kevin Rakestraw. Outside hitter Jordan Ewert was an All-MPSF honorable mention pick last season despite sitting out several matches due to injury. Sophomore setter Paul Bischoff returns after earning All-MPSF Freshman Team honors last season.
Head coach John Kosty, who is in his 12th season at the helm of the program and 28th overall on staff, welcomes four newcomers to the roster – Leo Henken, Jaylen Jasper, Kyler Presho and JP Reilly. Cole Paullin is also back on the roster after missing the previous two seasons while serving a church mission.
With the Big West now sponsoring men's volleyball, Stanford is the third-highest ranked MPSF squad to start the season as BYU is No. 3 and UCLA stands at No. 4. Two-time defending champion Ohio State enters the season as the preseason favorite, collecting 19 first-place votes. Full AVCA top 15 here.
Stanford opens the season on Friday, Dec. 30 against Calgary and will also face the Dinos on Tuesday, Jan. 2. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m. in Burnham Pavilion. Admission to all regular season home matches is free.
