The Penn State women’s volleyball team is ranked No. 3 in Division I by American Volleyball Coaches Association, which announced its preseason Top 25 in Monday.
The Nittany Lions are one of two Big Ten teams to crack the top five, with Nebraska coming in at No. 4. UCLA, the defending NCAA champion, took the top spot with 54 of the 60 possible first place votes, while Texas is ranked No. 2 and was one of four other teams to receive first place votes. Southern California was ranked fifth.
Penn State had its string of four consecutive NCAA championships halted last season.
Penn State will face eight teams ranked AVCA poll. The Nittany Lions will open the season on Aug. 24 in Active Ankle Challenge, hosted by Louisville. They will then face Texas and No. 6 Stanford in the Nike Big Four Volleyball Classic at Rec Hall on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.
