Volleyball ranked No. 2 in 2012 AVCA preseason poll
Longhorns ties highest preseason ranking in the history of AVCA poll; seven Top 25 teams on Texas schedule this season.
AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Volleyball team has been ranked No. 2 in the nation, according to the 2012 AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) preseason poll released today. The No. 2 ranking ties the highest ranking in the history of the poll with the 2009 squad earning the same mark.
Texas received one first-place vote and was slotted behind defending national champion UCLA, which received 54 of 60 possible first-place votes.
The Longhorns return 2011 Big 12 Player of the Year and 2012 Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year Bailey Webster and 2011 Big 12 Freshman of the Year Haley Eckerman, along with 2012 Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year Molly McCage, after the Longhorns finished with a No. 4 national ranking last season. UT compiled a 25-5 overall record in 2011 and won the Big 12 title with a 15-1 mark.
Texas is playing a formidable schedule this season with seven matches against Top 25 teams and 11 matches against opponents that played in the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
Texas Volleyball will host the Texas Two-Step for fans this Saturday (August 18) at Gregory Gym with a youth clinic from 11 a.m. to noon before a free scrimmage open to all fans from 1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The 2012 regular season starts on Friday (August 24) when UT hosts the 26 West Longhorns Classic with Cal Poly, San Diego and LSU.
Rank School Total 2011 2011 Points Record Final Poll 1 UCLA (54) 1485 30-6 1 2 TEXAS (1) 1341 25-5 4 3 Penn State 1302 25-8 9 4 Nebraska (1) 1281 25-5 12 5 Southern California (1) 1233 29-5 3 6 Stanford (3) 1197 22-8 14 7 Illinois 1163 30-5 2 8 Hawai'i 989 31-2 5 9 Purdue 935 29-5 10 10 Iowa State 886 25-6 8 11 Pepperdine 801 25-7 6 12 Florida State 770 28-7 7 13 Kentucky 724 28-6 13 14 Washington 677 24-8 17 15 Tennessee 652 28-4 19 16 Minnesota 616 20-12 15 17 California 583 26-7 16 18 Florida 543 27-6 11 19 San Diego 476 28-5 T-20 20 Oregon 366 21-10 24 21 Northern Iowa 286 33-2 18 22 Kansas State 246 22-11 22 23 Michigan 210 22-13 T-20 24 Ohio State 163 20-15 23 25 Colorado State 136 24-6 25
