K-State Ranked 14th in USA Today/CSTV Volleyball Poll
Aug 09, 2004 | General
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Kansas State volleyball team will begin the 2004 season as the 14th-ranked team in the country, the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced Monday in its USA Today/CSTV preseason poll.
The No. 14 preseason ranking is the highest in the history of Kansas State volleyball and marks the sixth straight season that the Wildcats have been present in the poll. Kansas State opened the 1999 season ranked 23rd and was ranked 17th in 2000, 19th in 2001, 22nd in 2002 and 15th last season.
Other Big 12 teams making the top 25 were Nebraska (2nd) and Texas A&M (15th). Four other Big 12 teams, Texas, Kansas, Missouri and Colorado, received votes in the poll, while four non-conference opponents for the Wildcats checked in the poll as well as Florida was ranked fourth, Minnesota fifth, California 10th and Northern Iowa 21st.
Last season, Kansas State was picked third in the Big 12 preseason poll and 15th nationally and went on to win the program’s first-ever conference title with a 30-5 overall record and an 18-2 mark in league play. The record-setting season marked the ninth straight year that the Wildcats finished with 19 or more wins, the eighth straight season the Cats advanced to the NCAA Tournament and marked the sixth straight year for a spot in the final AVCA/USA Today Top 25 poll.
The Wildcats, who reported to fall camp last week, open the 2004 season September 1 at home against Oral Roberts. First serve is set for 7 p.m. inside Ahearn Field House.
USA TODAY/CSTV Top 25 Coaches Poll
Rank School (First-Place Votes) Total Points 2003 Record 2003 Final
1 USC (56) 1,596 35-0 1
2 Nebraska (5) 1,417 28-5 13
3 UCLA 1,386 24-9 5
4 Florida 1,360 36-2 2
5 Minnesota (1) 1,318 26-11 4
6 Stanford (2) 1,230 25-7 10
7 Washington 1,170 23-9 9
8 Penn State 1,160 31-5 7
9 Pepperdine 1,091 27-3 6
10 California (1) 1,082 25-7 12
11 Colorado State 997 30-5 14
12 Georgia Tech 931 34-4 8
13 Hawai'i 718 36-2 3
14 Kansas State 658 30-5 11
15 Texas A&M 552 23-10 16
16 UC Santa Barbara 546 19-9 22
17 Arizona 500 17-15 NR
18 Loyola Marymount 438 26-7 17
19 Illinois 426 26-7 15
20 Louisville 304 25-6 20
21 Northern Iowa 272 28-6 18
22 Santa Clara 271 20-11 19
23 Wisconsin 260 22-11 21
24 Utah 161 22-9 23
25 Notre Dame 136 23-7 24
Others receiving points and listed on two or more ballots: Maryland 112, Cincinnati 110, Long Beach State 108, San Diego 105, Texas 88, Kansas 85, Missouri 78, Michigan 68, Colorado 59, Brigham Young 58, Michigan State 45, UC Irvine 39, Pittsburgh 34, Florida A&M 27, Ohio 20, Arkansas 18, Wichita State 13, Fresno State 12, Tennessee 11, North Carolina 8, Ohio State 7, Pacific 7, Western Michigan 6, Ball State 3, Florida State 2.
