Washington University in St. Louis’ volleyball team is ranked No. 4 in the 2007 CSTV/American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Preseason Coaches Poll, as announced today by the AVCA.
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WUSTL tallied 531 total points in the poll. In 2007, the Bears will contend with a fiercely competitive schedule, facing eight teams ranked in the preseason top 20. At the WU National Invitational on Friday-Saturday, Sept. 7-8, WU hosts No. 2 Wittenberg University, No. 12 Concordia University-Moorhead and No. 15 Ohio Northern University.
The following weekend, WUSTL will welcome three preseason top-10 teams to the WUSTL Field House for the Fourth Annual Teri Clemens Invitational. Competing at the Teri Clemens Invitational will be defending national champion and top-ranked Juniata College, No. 3 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and No. 6 La Verne University.
Emory University, ranked No. 5, and New York University, ranked No. 20, join WUSTL as the three University Athletic Association (UAA) teams ranked in the top 20.
The Bears finished the 2006 season as the NCAA runner-up, compiling a 38-2 overall record. Both of WUSTL’s losses were to Juniata College. The Red and Green also captured its 18th UAA title, boasting a perfect record in conference play.
WUSTL opens the 2007 season on the road, competing at the Illinois College Invitational in Jacksonville, Ill., Friday-Saturday, Aug. 31-Sept. 1. The Bears’ season opener is on Friday, Aug. 31, against Bethany Lutheran College at 6 p.m. It is the first time since 2003 WUSTL will begin its season on the road.