Updated: 6:45 AM ET Thu, Aug. 20, 2009
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UK volleyball earns first pre-season ranking in 16 years

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  • Coaches poll

    American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I pre-season poll

    (First-place votes in parentheses)

    1. Penn State (52)

    2. Texas (6)

    3. Nebraska

    4. Washington (2)

    5. Stanford

    6. California

    7. Hawaii

    8. Florida

    9. UCLA

    10. Illinois

    11. Minnesota

    12. Southern California

    13. Iowa State

    14. Oregon

    15. San Diego

    16. Michigan

    17. Utah

    18. Wichita State

    19. Purdue

    20. Saint Louis

    21. Kentucky

    22. Kansas State

    23. Long Beach State

    24. Colorado State

    25. Santa Clara

    Others receiving votes and appearing on two or more ballots: Pepperdine, Duke, Texas A&M, Wisconsin, Western Michigan, New Mexico State, Wright State, St. Mary's (Calif.), UC Irvine, Tulane, Ohio, LSU, Arizona, Cal Poly, Tennessee, Louisville, Michigan State, San Francisco, Baylor, Missouri State, Oklahoma, Middle Tennessee, Rice.

The University of Kentucky volleyball team received its first pre-season ranking in 16 years Wednesday when the Wildcats came in at No. 21 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I coaches' poll.

Kentucky, which received 288 votes in the pre-season poll, finished last season ranked No. 22.

Five starters and the starting libero return from Coach Craig Skinner's 26-6 team of a year ago, which finished second in the Southeastern Conference and made a school-record fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.

UK's pre-season ranking is just its fourth ever. Kentucky was rated No. 18 in 1993, No. 23 in 1992 and No. 13 in 1983.

Three of Kentucky's 2009 opponents also appeared in the poll: No. 8 Florida, No. 19 Purdue and No. 22 Kansas State.

Reigning NCAA champion Penn State begins the season at the top of the rankings followed by Final Four participants Texas and Nebraska.

Kentucky opens its season Aug. 28-29 by hosting the Kentucky Classic in Memorial Coliseum.


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