Nebraska Ranked Seventh in AVCA Preseason Poll

Lincoln -- The Nebraska volleyball team was ranked seventh in the USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I volleyball preseason poll released Monday afternoon. The Huskers, who finished the 2002 season ranked fifth with a 31-2 record, received 1,219 points. USC, the 2002 defending national champion, was the overwhelming favorite with 64 of a possible 65 first-place votes and 1,624 points.

Hawaii ranked second and was the only other team to receive a first-place vote. The Wahine were followed by Florida, Stanford, Pepperdine and Minnesota. Nebraska, Northern Iowa, UC Santa Barbara and Arizona rounded out the top 10.

NU, which began two-a-day practices last Friday, will be without its three-year nucleus of All-Americans Greichaly Cepero, Amber Holmquist and Laura Pilakowski. However, Nebraska returns seven letterwinners from last season's team that advanced to the NCAA regional finals, including senior outside hitter Anna Schrad, the preseason Big 12 Conference Co-Player of the Year. Other returning starters include sophomore middle blocker Melissa Elmer and sophomore outside hitter Jennifer Saleaumua.

Nebraska was one of four Big 12 teams ranked among the preseason top 25. The others were No. 15 Kansas State, No. 21 Missouri and No. 23 Texas. League foe Texas A&M was among the teams receiving votes. The Huskers will play 10 matches against seven teams ranked in the preseason top 25, including a Nov. 2 date at the NU Coliseum against No. 8 Northern Iowa. Nebraska will host three teams ranked in the preseason poll in the Sept. 12-14 US Bank/Arby's Classic, including No. 12 Georgia Tech, No. 14 Santa Clara and No. 25 Michigan State.

The Huskers begin the 2003 season Aug. 29 when they face Clemson at the Illinois State Barker GMC Classic. Nebraska will hold its annual Red/White Scrimmage Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. at the NU Coliseum.

2003 USA Today/AVCA Coaches Preseason Poll

Rank Team Points 2002 Record 2002 Rank

1

USC (64)

1624

31-1

1

2

Hawai'i (1)

1518

34-2

3

3

Florida

1476

34-3

4

4

Stanford

1447

32-5

2

5

Pepperdine

1281

26-7

6

6

Minnesota

1238

32-6

11

7

Nebraska

1219

31-2

5

8

Northern Iowa

1071

34-3

9

9

UC Santa Barbara

1048

30-3

8

10

Arizona

978

20-12

10

11

Penn State

850

25-8

16

12

Georgia Tech

668

33-6

17

13

UCLA

650

20-14

15

14

Santa Clara

588

24-7

19

15

Kansas State

573

21-9

21

16

Long Beach State

519

28-4

14

17

Wisconsin

496

24-9

18

18

Ohio State

425

21-11

13

19

Washington State

409

24-8

7

20

North Carolina

388

32-4

12

21

Missouri

361

26-8

20

22

Louisville

315

28-6

NR

23

Texas

266

23-9

NR

24

California

245

20-12

NR

25

Michigan State

221

21-12

22

Others receiving points and listed on two or more ballots: Miami 174, Temple 171, Washington 130, Colorado State 121, Notre Dame 116, Texas A&M 99*, Pacific 88, Utah 73, Eastern Washington 55, Brigham Young 40, San Diego 39, Michigan 18, Arkansas 14, Duke 14, South Carolina 14, Arizona State 13, Loyola Marymount 9, Fresno State 7, Indiana 3.