The University of Hawaii is ranked second in the 2003 USA Today/AVCA volleyball preseason poll. The Rainbow Wahine, who ended the 2002 season with a 34-2 record, are behind only defending national champion Southern California who earned 64 of 65 first place votes with UH taking the remaining first place vote.
The four national semifinalist teams from 2002 hold the top four spots in the preseason poll. Fresno State is the only other WAC school to receive votes, earning seven.
The Rainbow Wahine ended the 2002 season ranked third in the final USA Today poll. The Rainbow Wahine also earned their third Western Athletic Conference Tournament title. This season, Hawaii has six starters back, including two AVCA All-America first-team selections in seniors Kim Willoughby and Lily Kahumoku. Hawaii also returns third-team All-American Lauren Duggins.
The Rainbow Wahine and the Bulldogs were picked by the WAC coaches to finish first and second, respectively, in the WAC this season. The 2003 WAC volleyball season begins on Friday, Aug. 22 when Hawaii hosts Kansas State at the NACWAA/State Farm Womens Volleyball Classic. No. 1 USC and No. 3 Florida will also be in action in Honolulu on Aug. 22.
Rank School Total 02 Rec Final 2002
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 UCSB 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 St. 519 28-4 14
17 Wisconsin 496 24-9 18
18 Ohio State 425 21-11 13
19 Washington St. 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 St. 121, Notre Dame 116, Texas A&M 99, Pacific 88, Utah 73, Eastern Washington 55, BYU 40, San Diego 39, Michigan 18, Arkansas 14, Duke 14, South Carolina 14, Arizona St. 13, Loyola Marymount 9, Fresno State 7, Indiana 3.