BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University volleyball team will open the 2018 season ranked No. 5 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Preseason Poll, announced today from the organization’s headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky.

The Vikings are coming off a 27-4 campaign in 2017 that included a 19-1 record in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play to secure the program’s eighth GNAC title. WWU advanced to its sixth consecutive NCAA II Championships and played in its third straight West Region championship match.

The No. 5 ranking equals its highest preseason mark in program history, matching the No. 5 ranking to open the 2016 season after advancing to the NCAA II Final Four the previous season. The Vikings have now been ranked in 81 consecutive AVCA polls dating back to the first regular-season poll of the 2012 season. During this stretch spanning the last six seasons, Western has combined to go 145-33 (.815) and advanced to the NCAA Championships each season.

“It is always an honor to be recognized by the AVCA and to be mentioned among so many great programs,” said head coach Diane Flick-Williams, who enters her 19th season leading the Vikings. “We will know right away where we stand with five consecutive matches vs. ranked opponents to open the season, but that is the challenge we signed up for and working hard to get ready for the season.”

Each of WWU’s eight non-conference matches will be played against teams that appear in the preseason poll, with five ranked teams and three additional schools receiving votes. Overall, seven of the Vikings 28 regular-season matches will come against teams listed in the preseason top 25 and 14 total matches against teams either in the top 25 or receiving votes.

The 2018 schedule includes matches against Southwest Minnesota State (#2), Regis (#7), Cal State San Bernardino (#11), West Florida (#15), Northwest Nazarene (#19), Wheeling Jesuit (#24), Azusa Pacific (RV, #34), Alaska Anchorage (RV, #37), Sonoma State (RV, #39), Central Washington (RV, #42) and Biola (RV, #45).

The Vikings reported to campus this week for preseason camp and will open the 2018 season Aug. 24-25 with four matches at the West Florida Invitational against No. 24 Wheeling Jesuit, No. 2 Southwest Minnesota State, No. 7 Regis and No. 15 West Florida.

Flick-Williams (394-103 career record) returns a veteran-laden squad for 2018 that includes 6 starters from last season and 10 returning letterwinners.

Senior outside hitter Abby Phelps (Manson, WA/Chelan), the 2017 GNAC Player of the Year and a First Team AVCA All-American, leads a group of six returning starters, along with All-GNAC performers Michaela Hall (Sr., Middle, Centralia, WA) and Brette Boesel (Sr., Setter, Brewster, WA). Junior middle Kayleigh Harper (Oak Harbor, WA), a two-time First Team All-GNAC selection, returns for her junior season after sitting out last 2017. Additionally, junior middle Joslyn Bopray (Spokane, WA/Lewis & Clark) returns after finishing 2nd in the nation averaging 1.45 blocks per set and senior defensive specialist Aubrey (Buckner) Stephens (Colville, WA) will look to lead the defense after averaging 5.26 digs per set and earning NCAA II West Regional All-Tournament honors.

Following eight road matches to open the 2018 season, the Vikings open the 20-match conference schedule with a pair of home contests on WECU Court in Carver Gym, hosting Seattle Pacific (Thursday, Sept. 6) and Saint Martin’s (Saturday, September 8). Additional home dates in Carver Gym include Alaska Fairbanks (Sept. 20), Alaska Anchorage (Sept. 22), Montana State Billings (Sept. 29), Central Washington (Oct. 11), Northwest Nazarene (Oct. 13), Simon Fraser (Oct. 23), Western Oregon (Nov. 1) and Concordia (Nov. 3). All home matches start at 7 pm on the WWU campus.

The first regular season edition of the AVCA Division II Poll will be released on Aug. 27 after the first week of competition. In addition to being ranked in 81 consecutive polls, the Vikings are 23rd all-time in AVCA Division II poll history appearing in the national poll 162 times and 28th appearing in the top 10 in 61 polls.

The Vikings will be looking to make their seventh consecutive trip to the 2018 NCAA Division II West Regional Championships, which will be held November 15-17 at an on-campus site. The winner of the West Regional will advance to the NCAA Division II Championship Tournament in Pittsburgh, Penn., as a part of the NCAA Division II Fall Festival hosted by Slippery Rock University, SportsPITTSBURGH and Clarion University at the A.J. Palumbo Center on the campus of Duquesne University.