Aug. 8, 2005

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The American Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA) released their CSTV/AVCA Division I Coaches' Top 25 Preseason Poll on Monday. Missouri was ranked 21st in the poll, being ranked in the preseason two out of the past three years. Although the Big 12 coaches ranked the Tigers second in the league, coaches on the national scene tabbed the Tigers as the fourth-best team among schools of the Big 12.

Nebraska received 35 of 68 first-place votes and is the preseason coaches' pick to be on top of Division I volleyball by December. Other schools from the Big 12 received high praise on the poll as Texas had enough votes to claim the 11th spot on the poll. Texas A&M landed the 16th spot and tied with Missouri for third in the 2004 Big 12 Standings. Kansas State, Kansas, and Colorado received votes on the poll and landed outside of the top 25.

Missouri's last preseason ranking came in 2003, when the Tigers captured an identical ranking to this year's at No. 21. The AVCA poll listed the Tigers 24th in their 2004 final poll, after Missouri's fifth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, reaching the second round for the second time in three years.

Missouri will begin their 2005 season by hosting the Tiger Invitational, September 2-4 with Tennessee and Utah as hosts. Tennessee opened the season ranked ninth on the national poll after being co-champs of the SEC in 2004.

For more information including ticket info, visit mutigers.com. Tickets can also be purchased by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS.