DENVER, COLO. ? The University of Hawai’i is ranked 10th in the 2007 CSTV/AVCA volleyball preseason coaches’ poll. The Rainbow Wahine, who ended the 2006 season with a 29-6 record, finished last season ranked ninth.
Defending national champion, Nebraska, starts the season ranked No. 1, while last season’s runner-up, Stanford starts the season ranked No. 2. Penn State takes the No. 3 spot, while Texas is ranked No. 4 and UCLA is ranked No. 5.
This season, the Rainbow Wahine return five starters, but will be without All-American and WAC Player of the Year, Kanoe Kamana`o. Hawai?i does return WAC Preseason Player of the Year, Jamie Houston, along with first-team all-WAC selections, Kari Gregory and Juliana Sanders. Last season, Hawai?i earned its seventh Western Athletic Conference Tournament title. Hawai?i is the only team ranked, but New Mexico State did earn 104 votes.
The Rainbow Wahine and New Mexico State were picked by the WAC coaches to finish first and second, respectively, in the WAC this season. The 2007 WAC volleyball season begins on Friday, Aug. 24 with all nine WAC teams competing.
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