Aug. 16, 2011

AVCA TOP 25 POLL

LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Dayton volleyball will begin the 2011 season nationally ranked as the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coaches Top 25 Preseason Poll tabbed the Flyers No. 19 on Monday.

“I think most coaches recognize that preseason rankings mostly reflect the previous season's results,” Head Coach Kelly Sheffield said. “I can say this, although we have a lot of work to do to reach our potential, I like the work ethic and the way this team is getting after it in practice. If we can be consistent with our approach I think we are going to be a team that people will enjoy watching, and we'll have a chance to be really good.”

It is the second consecutive season in which Dayton has been nationally-ranked in the preseason and the 20th consecutive week the Flyers have been in the top 25. Dayton’s No. 19 position to begin the season is the highest preseason ranking in program history, after beginning 2010 at No. 21.

Top 25 History Dayton's streak of 20 consecutive weeks in the top 25 began on Nov. 23, 2009, ranked No. 24. Dayton’s highest position in the AVCA poll is No. 12, which came on the weeks of Oct. 15, 2007 and Nov. 22, 2010.

The 2010 Dayton volleyball squad became the first team of any sport in Dayton history to be nationally ranked for the entire season after finishing with a No. 15 ranking in the final AVCA poll. Dayton finished the 2009 season ranked No. 25.

Top 25 Opponents
Dayton will face six teams which received votes in the preseason top 25, including No. 8 Illinois, T-No. 24 Tennessee, T-No. 24 Michigan, Pepperdine, Florida State and Notre Dame. All four teams in the 2011 Dayton Flyer Classic are receiving votes in the AVCA preseason poll (Dayton, Michigan, Pepperdine and Florida State). Last season Dayton played five teams ranked in the final AVCA poll, including No. 7 Nebraska, No. 9 Illinois, No. 14 Northern Iowa, No. 10 Minnesota, and No. 19 Ohio State.

Representing the Atlantic 10
The Flyers are the only Atlantic 10 Conference team receiving votes this preseason, and are the only program in the A-10 to be in the top 25 since Saint Louis joined UD in the top 25 at No. 22 on Nov. 20, 2009.