The AVCA preseason top 25 coaches poll came out Tuesday. The first ranking of the leading NCAA women’s volleyball programs is hardly the be-all end-all, but it’s a good place to start for the purpose of looking at the start of the season.
And that happens a week from Friday with some pretty enticing matches. So, in order, a little of this and that:
No. 1 Texas (28-1, 15-1 Big 12) — The defending national champions are still the team to beat in the new-and-improved Big 12, but No. 1? Gone are VolleyballMag.com national player of the year Logan Eggleston and one-year super libero Zoe Fleck, a VolleyballMag.com first-team All-American who made the difference as Texas won its first NCAA crown since 2012. But don’t cry for the Longhorns, a team anchored by senior middle Asjia O’Neal, who made a big splash for the USA this summer. She has a legit shot at making our Olympic team for Paris in 2024. This is a squad that also includes Madisen Skinner, Molly Phillips and Bella Bergmark and Minnesota transfer Jenna Wenaas. Firepower won’t be the question — it never is for Texas — but the quality of play that coach Jerritt Elliott gets at setter and libero is.
No. 2 Wisconsin (28-4, 19-1 Big Ten) — Wisconsin won it all in 2021 and last year lost to Pitt in the regional final. Not only is almost everyone back, but the Badgers added two big-time transfers in Northwestern graduate-student outside Temi Thomas-Ailara, a VolleyballMag.com second-team All-American, and 6-foot-7 Minnesota sophomore middle Carter Booth. Among the returners are 6-9 Anna Smrek, MJ Hammill, Devyn Robinson, Izzy Ashburn, Sarah Franklin and Julia Orzol. There is every reason to think Wisconsin — picked to win the Big Ten by the coaches — will be there when the final four teams gather in Tampa in late December.
No. 3 Stanford (27-5, 19-1 Pac-12) — Stanford, which lost in the NCAA regional final — at home — to San Diego is my team to beat. Pound for pound, the Cardinal’s starting lineup is the nation’s best, including the best right side in Kendal Kipp, the best setter in Kami Miner, and a libero as good as anyone’s in Elena Oglivie. Throw in Elia Rubin, Sami Francis, Caitie Baird and McKenna Vicini and you’re looking a team that will win the final season of the Pac-12. And you have to mention Stanford’s annually ridiculously tough pre-conference schedule as the Cardinal starts school later than most because it’s on the quarter…
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