LEXINGTON, Ky. — BYU women's volleyball is ranked No. 15 in the ACVA Women's Division I Preseason Coaches Poll released Monday.
Following the 2020-21 spring season, the Cougars finished at No. 15. BYU was nationally ranked every week of the season.
The Cougars are returning All-America third-teamer Kennedy Eschenberg and All-America honorable mentions Whitney Bower and Taylen Ballard-Nixon. 2018 National Freshman of the Year, Heather Gneiting is returning to the program for her junior season after serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Three-time All- American Kenzie Koerber, a transfer from the University of Utah, joins the Cougars this season, along with notable transfers Gretchen Reinert out of Santa Clara and Aria McComber from Washington State. With five high school signees joining the 2021 squad, the incoming class is ranked No. 7 nationally. A full 2021 season preview will be available later this week.
The Cougars have been ranked in the preseason top 25 each year since 2013 and 32 times since 1982, including 15 appearances in the top 10.
The first ranked team BYU will face this season is No. 9 Pitt in the Panther Challenge Sept. 10. The Cougars will play No. 19 Utah in the Smith Fieldhouse Sept. 16. Fellow WCC opponents, No. 20 San Diego and No. 22 Pepperdine were also ranked in this preseason poll.
BYU will begin the 2021 season Aug. 27 taking on Southern Utah in the Doterra Classic.
For the complete poll click HERE
AVCA Division 1 Coaches Top 25 Preseason Women's Poll: August 16, 2021
| Rank | School (First-Place Votes Adjusted) | Total Points Adjusted | 2021 Record | Previous Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas (32) | 1561 | 0-0 | NR |
| 2 | Wisconsin (15) | 1522 | 0-0 | NR |
| 3 | Kentucky (17) | 1435 | 0-0 | NR |
| 4 | Washington | 1355 | 0-0 | NR |
| 5 | Nebraska | 1346 | 0-0 | NR |
| 6 | Florida | 1275 | 0-0 | NR |
| 7 | Minnesota | 1130 | 0-0 | NR |
| 8 | Purdue | 1096 | 0-0 | NR |
| 9 | Pittsburgh | 1085 | 0-0 | NR |
| 10 | Baylor | 1000 | 0-0 | NR |
| 11 | Ohio State | 981 | 0-0 | NR |
| 12 | Penn State | 902 | 0-0 | NR |
| 13 | Louisville | 806 | 0-0 | NR |
| 14 | Oregon | 776 | 0-0 | NR |
| 15 | BYU | 734 | 0-0 | NR |
| 16 | Western Kentucky | 553 | 0-0 | NR |
| 17 | UCLA | 496 | 0-0 | NR |
| 18 | Washington State | 431 | 0-0 | NR |
| 19 | Utah | 398 | 0-0 | NR |
| 20 | San Diego | 319 | 0-0 | NR |
| 21 | Stanford | 264 | 0-0 | NR |
| 22 | Pepperdine | 234 | 0-0 | NR |
| 23 | Rice | 223 | 0-0 | NR |
| 24 | Georgia Tech | 193 | 0-0 | NR |
| 25 | Notre Dame | 157 | 0-0 | NR |
Others receiving votes and listed on two or more ballots: Southern California 105; Creighton 69; Missouri 51; Hawai'i 47; LSU 41; UNLV 33; Michigan 28; Marquette 27; Dayton 25; Kansas State 13; Tennessee 13; Kansas 11; Texas State 11; Illinois 9; Arizona 8; UC San Diego 8; Wright State 5; Cal Poly 4; Arkansas 2.