BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The volley Western Washington University volleyball team heads into the 2017 season ranked No. 12 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II preseason coaches poll, announced today from the organization’s headquarters in Lexington, Ky.
Led by 18th-year head coach Diane Flick-Williams, the Vikings will be looking to make a record sixth consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships while returning a bulk of the team that finished 23-8 a year ago.
The ranking marks the 12th time in 20 seasons at the NCAA Division II level the Vikings have appeared in the preseason Top 25. WWU has earned a final national ranking in six of the last seven seasons, including No. 6 in 2015 and No. 14 in 2016. Over the last five seasons the Vikings have recorded a 118-29 record (.803) to solidify the program’s standing as one of the best in NCAA Division II.
The Vikings return the bulk of last year’s squad that advanced to the NCAA II West Regional Championship for the second consecutive season, including six starters and 12 total letterwinners.
The 2017 schedule features 10 matches (out of 28) against teams that are listed in the top 35 of the AVCA preseason poll, including defending national champion and preseason No. 1 Concordia-St. Paul. WWU is one of two Great Northwest Athletic Conference teams in the preseason top 25, with Alaska Anchorage checking in at No. 4. Northwest Nazarene (#27) and Central Washington (#34) also received votes.
WWU opens the 2017 season Sept. 1-2 with four matches at The Terrace Hotel Classic in Lakeland, Fla., where they will face Concordia-St. Paul, Pace, New Haven and tournament host Florida Southern. WWU’s first home match on WECU Court at the newly-renovated Carver Gymnasium will be September 19 vs. Simon Fraser (7 pm).
2017 AVCA DIVISION II COACHES PRESEASON POLL
Rank School (First-Place Votes) Total Points Adjusted 2016 Record 2016 Final Rank
1. Concordia – St. Paul (38) 1149 35-2 1
2. Southwest Minnesota St. (4) 1125 28-6 2
3. Nebraska-Kearney 1040 35-2 5
4. Alaska Anchorage (1) 1002 34-3 3
5. Winona State (3) 987 27-6 4
6. Palm Beach Atlantic (2) 965 32-4 6
7. Minnesota Duluth 937 25-5 7
8. Lewis 824 29-8 10
9. Angelo State 752 34-4 11
10. Augustana (SD) 709 27-6 8
11. Wheeling Jesuit 667 41-3 9
12. Western Washington 631 23-8 14
13. Wayne State (Neb.) 602 24-8 12
14. Ferris State 570 30-6 16
15. Cal State San Bernardino 495 25-5 17
16. Washburn 432 28-6 13
17. Tampa 415 23-9 24
18. Central Oklahoma 395 30-4 15
19. Colorado School of Mines 358 25-7 20
20. Metro State 287 27-5 18
21. Central Missouri 262 23-10 19
22. Concordia-Irvine 171 26-3 22
23. Rockhurst 145 27-7 23
24. Northern State 122 16-12 21
25. Tarleton State 110 27-7 25
Others Receiving Votes: Florida Southern 75; Northwest Nazarene 69; West Florida 44;
North Alabama 39; California Baptist 31; Grand Valley State 25; Saint Leo 22; South Carolina-Aiken 20; Central Washington 16; Wingate 12; NW Missouri State 10; American International 9; Flagler 8; Arkansas-Fort Smith 6; Ashland 6; Cedarville 4
— @WWUVolleyball —
