LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Chaminade University women's volleyball team is ranked 12th in the AVCA Division II Preseason Top 25 Poll released Friday.
The ranking is tied for the highest-ever in the D-II era for the Silverswords, who were also No. 12 in the Sept. 18 poll last year. It is also the third time the team has opened the year in the preseason rankings.
Following next week's season-opening Hawai'i-Alaska Challenge, Chaminade's next five scheduled opponents are ranked including Cal Poly Pomona (No. 21), St. Cloud State (No. 10), Cal State Los Angeles (No. 1), Cal State San Bernardino (No. 8) and Wayne State (No. 4).
Potential non-conference opponents also in the rankings are West Texas A&M (No. 3), Concordia-St. Paul (No. 5), Missouri-St. Louis (No. 6), MSU Denver (No. 7), Regis (No. 13), Lewis (No. 14), Central Missouri (No. 15) and Seattle Pacific (No. 19), all of whom are participating at the Colorado Premier Challenge in Denver.
The 'Swords, who are tied with Point Loma atop the Pacific West Conference Preseason Poll, are coming off a 30-4 season which they set a program record for wins. They have 13 returnees including AVCA All-America setter
Leilani Ama (Spokane, Wash./Mt. Spokane), last season's PacWest Newcomer of the Year
Lizanyela Lopez (Lima, Peru/Trinity Valley CC/Saco Oliveros HS) and outside hitter
Mahala Ka'apuni (Hilo, Hawai'i/Alaska Anchorage/Hilo HS).
The 'Swords will host an exhibition Tuesday against Brock University from Ontario, Canada, at McCabe Gymnasium with a 6 p.m. start. Streaming video will be free while all three Hawai'i-Alaska Challenge which begins Thursday will be on a pay-per-view basis.
