Spartans Selected as No. 17 in AVCA Preseason Poll
The University of Tampa Spartans check-in at No. 17 in this year's AVCA Preseason Top 25 Poll.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The American Volleyball Coaches Association has tabbed the University of Tampa volleyball team as the No. 17 ranked program in its Division II preseason poll as announced Monday by the association office.
The Spartans snag this ranking after finishing the 2016 season in the NCAA South Region Semifinals with a 23-9 overall record.
Returning to the top spot is Concordia – St. Paul with 38 first place votes. Rightfully so after conquering Alaska-Anchorage in the 2016 national championship match in three sets. The Golden Bears won the championship with a 35-2 record, recording their eighth national championship in program history. Runner-up Alaska-Anchorage sits at No. 4 in the rankings.
Sunshine State Conference member and 2015 runner-up Palm Beach Atlantic enters the preseason poll with a No. 6 rank while Southwest Minnesota State and Nebraska-Kearney sit No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. Winona State holds the No. 5 rank as Minnesota Duluth (No. 7), Lewis (No. 8), Angelo State (No.9), and Augustana (SD) (No. 10) round out the top-10 in the poll.
Tampa has been ranked by the AVCA in an astounding 283 consecutive polling periods dating back to the 1995 season. The streak ranks second in AVCA history, as No. 9 Central Missouri holds the active record.
UT will begin the 2017 campaign on Friday, Sept. 1 at 2:30 p.m. as it hosts New Haven.
Live stats as well as a live video webcast will be made available through www.tampaspartans.com.
Click here for the complete AVCA preseason poll
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