Warriors seventh in AVCA preseason poll

Coming off its first appearance in the NCAA championships since 2002, the Rainbow Warrior volleyball team will open the 2016 season ranked seventh in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I-II Men’s Preseason Poll.

UH ended the spring ranked sixth in the poll following a 24-7 season that included a four-week stint at No. 1. UH’s placement in the poll released Wednesday is the program’s highest preseason ranking since appearing sixth prior to the 2011 season.

BYU received 13 of 20 first-place votes and will open the season at No. 1. The Cougars visit the Stan Sheriff Center for a two-match series March 2 and 4.

UC Irvine is second in the poll followed by defending national champion Loyola-Chicago. Long Beach State, UCLA and Ohio State also were voted ahead of UH.

The Warriors open the season Jan. 7 and will face King, Harvard and No. 8 Lewis, last year’s national runner-up, in the Outrigger Resorts Invitational.