September 10, 2007
After a record-setting 10-0 start to the season, Texas A&M volleyball is back in the Top 25 national ranking.
The Aggies, fresh off their third consecutive tournament title, are ranked No. 25 in this week?â„¢s CSTV/AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll. It marks A&M?â„¢s first Top 25 appearance since a No. 24 showing on Oct. 10, 2005.
?This is just a nice confirmation and recognition of our strong start and the talent that we have,? said coach Laurie Corbelli, who has directed A&M to 13 NCAA tournament appearances in her 14 years as coach of the Aggies. ?Even though the poll is based on coaches?â„¢ opinions, hopefully it will continue to give our group the confidence that they can play at a high level.
?This is a special group of players with a lot of talent and no egos, and it has been so enjoyable to have a total team attitude. On a daily basis, each player is doing a great job of showing her commitment to our goals of getting back to into the NCAA tournament, being ranked in the Top 25 and getting this program back to where it needs to be.?
Defending national and Big 12-champion Nebraska remained No. 1 in the national poll, receiving 56 of 60 first-place votes. Other Big 12 schools in the Top 25 are No. 7 Texas and Kansas State, which moved up three spots to No. 19. Oklahoma received votes and is listed tied for 38th.
?Being ranked in the Top 25 is Step 1 for us as far as getting our feet back under us and closer to where this program is used to being,? Corbelli said. ?Every program has its ups and downs. We have experienced the lows, and it is exciting to see that we are headed back up. In order for us to continue to climb, it is going to take continued improvement and keen preparation for each match, as well as staying injury free.?
The Aggies begin the most difficult portion of their schedule Wednesday as A&M opens Big 12 play against Oklahoma. The Sooners (7-2), who placed second in the Big 12 and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen last season, have been ranked has high as No. 21 this year, but dropped out of the Top 25 last week following a loss to Middle Tennessee State.
First serve against the Sooners is at 6:30 p.m. at G. Rollie White Coliseum. It also is ?Fish Camp Night? at the Holler House, and anyone wearing a Fish Camp shirt will be admitted free.
The following is the complete CSTV/AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll, released today:
CSTV/AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll
2007 POLL #3: September 10, 2007
Rank School (First-Place Votes) Total Points 2007 Record Last Week
1 Nebraska (56) 1496 7-0 1
2 Stanford (4) 1444 7-0 2
3 Penn State 1364 6-1 3
4 Southern California 1303 8-0 4
5 UCLA 1242 7-1 5
6 Florida 1207 7-0 6
7 Texas 1160 4-2 7
8 Washington 1091 8-0 8
9 Wisconsin 970 8-1 10
10 Michigan 870 8-0 14
11 California 844 8-1 15
12 BYU 785 6-2 9
13 Minnesota 705 4-3 12
14 Cal Poly 697 5-4 17
15 Hawai?â„¢i 636 6-3 16
16 Duke 595 5-3 11
17 Ohio 567 6-2 13
18 San Diego 535 5-3 18
19 Kansas State 372 8-2 22
20 Ohio State 367 5-1 20
21 Dayton 290 10-0 23
22 Santa Clara 196 6-3 19
23 St. John?â„¢s 136 10-2 24
24 LSU 111 8-1 21
25 Texas A&M 104 10-0 NR
Others Receiving Votes and appearing on two or more ballots: New Mexico State 91; Oregon 73; Wichita State 36; Middle Tennessee 33; Louisville 32; Colorado State 30; Purdue 18; Long Beach State 16; Pepperdine 14; Missouri State 9; Tulane 9; Utah 9; Notre Dame 8; Oklahoma 7; Tennessee 7; Loyola Marymount 6; Ole Miss 6.
Seven schools were listed on only one ballot for a total of 9 points.
Dropped out: Middle Tennessee (25)