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STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
UH Rainbow Wahine volleyball player Tai Manu-Olevao hit the ball against University of Washington players Melanie Wade, left, and Kaleigh Nelson in a Dec. 6 game in Seattle, WA.
The Hawaii women’s volleyball team was ranked No. 18 in the AVCA Coaches Top 25 preseason poll announced on Wednesday.
The Rainbow Wahine, ending the year 22-7, finished at No. 23 in last season’s rankings. Hawaii is the only Big West Conference team ranked.
Defending national champion Penn State was the preseason favorite, receiving 54 first-place votes. Stanford (6 votes) was at No. 2 followed by Texas (1) and Florida. Wisconsin (1) and Nebraska tied for fifth.
The fourth-ranked Gators will play Hawaii on Sept. 11 in an Outrigger Resorts Challenge match. The only other nationally ranked opponent on the Rainbow Wahine schedule is No. 20 UCLA, which plays Hawaii Sept. 6 in the Hawaiian Airlines Classic.
Defending Big West champion Long Beach State was just outside the Top 25 with 147 points, good enough for 26th. Other Hawaii opponents receiving votes were Oregon State (89 points), Wichita State (9) and American (4).
The Rainbow Wahine open the season on Aug. 28 against Idaho in the Chevron Invitational. Also in the field are Oregon State and Wichita State.
