PROVO, Utah – BYU women’s volleyball came in at No. 10 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) preseason poll, the association announced today.
The Cougars come off a 30-2 season in 2021, going a perfect 18-0 in conference en route to their second-straight West Coast Conference title and sixth in seven seasons under head coach Heather Olmstead.
Also making Sweet 16 runs in the NCAA Tournament the last two seasons, BYU returns All-American setter Whitney Bower, as well as middle blocker Heather Gneiting, outside hitter Erin Livingston and opposite hitter Kate Grimmer.
| Preseason AVCA Poll | |
|---|---|
| Rank | Team |
| 1 | Nebraska |
| 2 | Texas |
| 3 | Wisconsin |
| 4 | Louisville |
| 5 | Minnesota |
| 6 | Pittsburgh |
| 7 | Ohio State |
| 8 | Washington |
| 9 | Georgia Tech |
| 10 | BYU |
Three 2022 opponents join BYU in the top-10: Pittsburgh, Ohio State and Georgia Tech.
Beginning last season at No. 15, the Cougars were ranked as high as No. 4 in the nation before finishing the year at No. 9, their first postseason top-10 ranking since advancing to the NCAA Semifinal in 2018.
BYU has both begun and ended each of Olmstead’s seasons ranked in the top-20. View the full AVCA poll here.