Photo by: Maria Lysaker
Volleyball Ranked No. 23 in AVCA Preseason Poll
8/16/2021 12:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
First time ranked in preseason poll in program history
HOUSTON – For the first time in program history the Rice Owls volleyball team is ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches Association preseason poll coming in at No. 23, the organization announced on Monday.
The Owls, who won the C-USA West division with a 12-0 record last year, finished the 2020-21 season with a 16-5 overall record and earned an NCAA Tournament at-large bid for a second straight season.
Rice finished last season ranked No. 23 in the AVCA Poll and returns all six starters and libero.
The Owls will open the 2021 season with a two-match series at South Carolina on Aug. 27-28, starting with No. 9 Pittsburgh followed by the Gamecocks.
Rice's 22-match schedule features four matches against teams ranked in the Top-20.
AVCA Coaches Poll
1. Texas
2. Wisconsin
3. Kentucky
4. Washington
5. Nebraska
6. Florida
7. Minnesota
8. Purdue
9. Pittsburgh
10. Baylor
11. Ohio State
12. Penn State
13. Louisville
14. Oregon
15. BYU
16. WKU
17. UCLA
18. Washington State
19. Utah
20. San Diego
21. Stanford
22. Pepperdine
23. Rice
24. Georgia Tech
25. Notre Dame
The Owls, who won the C-USA West division with a 12-0 record last year, finished the 2020-21 season with a 16-5 overall record and earned an NCAA Tournament at-large bid for a second straight season.
Rice finished last season ranked No. 23 in the AVCA Poll and returns all six starters and libero.
The Owls will open the 2021 season with a two-match series at South Carolina on Aug. 27-28, starting with No. 9 Pittsburgh followed by the Gamecocks.
Rice's 22-match schedule features four matches against teams ranked in the Top-20.
AVCA Coaches Poll
1. Texas
2. Wisconsin
3. Kentucky
4. Washington
5. Nebraska
6. Florida
7. Minnesota
8. Purdue
9. Pittsburgh
10. Baylor
11. Ohio State
12. Penn State
13. Louisville
14. Oregon
15. BYU
16. WKU
17. UCLA
18. Washington State
19. Utah
20. San Diego
21. Stanford
22. Pepperdine
23. Rice
24. Georgia Tech
25. Notre Dame
-RiceOwls.com-
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