Texas Volleyball Ranked No. 1 in 2013 AVCA Preseason Poll

AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas Volleyball team has been ranked No. 1 in the nation, according to the 2013 AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) preseason poll released Monday. The No. 1 spot marks the highest preseason ranking in Longhorn history. Texas previously earned a No. 2 ranking on two occasions, in 2009 and 2012.
Texas, the top-ranked team in last season’s final poll after winning the NCAA Championship, received 55 of the 60 possible first-place votes, while Penn State and Stanford received three and two, respectively, to round out the top three teams in the poll. Southern California and Washington were ranked fourth and fifth.
The Longhorns, who compiled a 29-4 overall mark last season, return AVCA All-America selections Haley Eckerman and Bailey Webster as well as senior setter Hannah Allison. Khat Bell, who tallied a .385 hitting percentage last season, and Molly McCage, who started 26 of the Longhorns' 33 matches as a freshman, also return to the UT lineup. In 2012, Texas finished the season winning 23 of its final 24 matches, recorded 22 sweeps and hit .438 in the national championship match over Oregon to claim its second NCAA title in program history.
(Also See: How the 2013 Schedule Benefits Texas)
UT also posted an undefeated home mark in Big 12 Conference play last season en route to its sixth league title. Texas enters the 2013 season having won 40 consecutive league matches at home. Their last league loss in Austin came on Oct. 29, 2008, to Oklahoma.
Texas Volleyball will host the annual Orange vs. White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 24, at Gregory Gym. A free youth clinic will precede the scrimmage at 9:15 a.m., with the match scheduled for 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. An autograph session will follow at 1 p.m.
Rank School (First-Place Votes) Total Points 2012 Record 2012 Final Poll
1. TEXAS (55) 1490 29-4 1
2. Penn State (3) 1425 33-3 3
3. Stanford (2) 1379 30-4 4
4. Southern California 1307 30-6 6
5. Washington 1167 25-7 9
6. Minnesota 1140 27-8 8
7. Michigan 1120 27-12 5
8. Oregon
9. Florida
10. Nebraska 962 26-7 7
11. Hawai'i
12. UCLA
13. BYU
14. Michigan State 676 25-10 16
15. Iowa State 650 22-8 14
16. Purdue
17. Kentucky 504 22-11 20
18. Florida State 479 28-4 18
19. Louisville 389 30-4 17
20. Kansas
21. Western Kentucky 262 33-4 21
22. Dayton
23. Ohio State
24. Wichita State 172 24-10 23
25. Creighton 133 29-4 24