LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Tampa Women’s Volleyball team has been named the number one team in the nation according to the AVCA Preseasons Coaches Poll.

This is the third time in programs history that the Spartans enter the season as the nation’s top ranked team, and the first time since the 2015 season. With the preseason ranking, this will mark the 33^rd consecutive year that the Spartans are ranked in the AVCA poll.

The Spartans are returning 11 players from last year’s National Championship team. Returning are a pair of All-South Region selections in Katie McKiel and Sorrel Houghton, who combined for a total of 1,012 kills on the year. In the middle, the Spartans return Taylor Fosler who led the team in blocks with 118.

Joining Tampa in the rankings from the Sunshine State Conference are Palm Beach Atlantic, who is ranked 15^th and Barry coming in ranked at 16^th. Florida Southern and Saint Leo also received votes in the poll.  

The Spartans will be tested early in the year as they host the Courtyard by Marriott-Terrace Hotel Classic, which features the fifth ranked team in the nation, the Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears. After the Classic, the Spartans will head west to Denver, Colorado as they will play in the Colorado Premier Challenge. UT will start the tournament with a matchup with the 20^th ranked Texas A&M Commerce Lions.

Rank	School	Total Points Adjusted	First Place Votes Adjusted
1	Tampa	1142	43
2	Cal State San Bernardino	1040	0
3	Western Washington	1023	1
4	Washburn	981	2
5	Concordia – St. Paul	931	0
6	Minnesota Duluth	905	0
7	Lewis	828	0
8	Northern State	757	0
9	Southwest Minnesota State	732	0
10	Tarleton State	688	0
11	Nebraska-Kearney	655	0
12	Ferris State	561	0
13	Wheeling	548	0
14	Rockhurst	512	0
15	Palm Beach Atlantic	487	0
16	Barry	462	0
17	Central Missouri	436	0
18	Drury	369	0
19	Cal State L. A.	288	0
T-20	Cal Poly Pomona	244	0
T-20	Texas A&M-Commerce	244	0
22	Central Oklahoma	179	0
23	Central Washington	144	0
24	West Florida	125	0
25	Wingate	104	0

Others receiving votes and listed on two or more ballots: Gannon 61; Colorado Mesa University 58; Michigan Tech 55; Wayne State (Neb.) 49; Azusa Pacific 47; Northeastern State University 33; Colorado School of Mines 30; Ashland 26; NW Missouri State 26; Chaminade 25; Florida Southern 23; Sioux Falls 20; American International 19; Saint Leo 19; Angelo State 16; Hillsdale 16; Illinois-Springfield 12; Simon Fraser University 11; Dixie State-Utah 6; California State University San Marcos 5;

Six teams mentioned on only one ballot for a total of 18 combined points.