DENVER, COLO. The University of Hawaii is ranked 13th in the 2004 USA Today/CSTV volleyball preseason coaches poll. The Rainbow Wahine, who ended the 2003 season with a 36-2 record, ended last season ranked third.
Defending national champion, USC, retains the stop spot followed by Nebraska, UCLA and Florida. Fresno State is the only other WAC school to receive votes, earning 12.
This season, Hawaii loses six starters, including two AVCA All-America first-team selections in seniors Kim Willoughby and Lily Kahumoku. Hawaii also loses All-American Lauren Duggins. The only returning starter for the Rainbow Wahine is AVCA National Freshman of the Year, Kanoe Kamana`o. Last season, Hawaii earned its fourth Western Athletic Conference Tournament title.
The Rainbow Wahine and the Bulldogs were picked by the WAC coaches to finish first and second, respectively, in the WAC this season. The 2004 WAC volleyball season begins on Wednesday, Sept. 1 with five of 10 WAC teams competing.
USA TODAY/CSTV Division I Coaches Top 25
Preseason Poll, August 9, 2004
Rank School (First-Place Votes) Total Points 2003 Record Final 20031 USC (56) 1,596 35-0 1
2 Nebraska (5) 1,417 28-5 13
3 UCLA 1,386 24-9 5
4 Florida 1,360 36-2 2
5 Minnesota (1) 1,318 26-11 4
6 Stanford (2) 1,230 25-7 10
7 Washington 1,170 23-9 9
8 Penn State 1,160 31-5 7
9 Pepperdine 1,091 27-3 6
10 California (1) 1,082 25-7 12
11 Colorado State 997 30-5 14
12 Georgia Tech 931 34-4 8
13 Hawaii 718 36-2 3
14 Kansas State 658 30-5 11
15 Texas A&M 552 23-10 16
16 UCSB 546 19-9 22
17 Arizona 500 17-15 NR
18 LMU 438 26-7 17
19 Illinois 426 26-7 15
20 Louisville 304 25-6 20
21 Northern Iowa 272 28-6 18
22 Santa Clara 271 20-11 19
23 Wisconsin 260 22-11 21
24 Utah 161 22-9 23
25 Notre Dame 136 23-7 24
Others receiving points and listed on two or more ballots: : Maryland 112, Cincinnati 110, Long Beach State 108, San Diego 105, Texas 88, Kansas 85, Missouri 78, Michigan 68, Colorado 59, Brigham Young 58, Michigan State 45, UC Irvine 39, Pittsburgh 34, Florida A&M 27, Ohio 20, Arkansas 18, Wichita State 13, Fresno State 12, Tennessee 11, North Carolina 8, Ohio State 7, Pacific 7, Western Michigan 6, Ball State 3, Florida State 2.