Post by nyline on Aug 21, 2015 10:06:01 GMT -5
We've posted a "Fifteen Points" column by Lionsfan on DigNittanyVolleyball.com (we hope to do this every week), which looks at Week 1, Preseason Polls, the B1G/Pac-12 Challenge, Early Seed Predictions, teams with tough schedules, and Lionsfan's Preseason Top 25. For the full post, Click Here. Here's an excerpt with the first four points (without the table showing Penn State's preseason/final rankings):
1. Penn State Ranked #1 for Eighth Time
Penn State’s #1 ranking in the August 12th AVCA Preseason Poll marked the eighth time in program history that the Nittany Lions have been ranked #1 in the AVCA’s Preseason Poll. In five of the previous seven instances, the Nittany Lions also finished the year at #1. They finished #2 in 1998 and #9 in 2011 (losing to eventual national champion UCLA in the round of 16) — the only time they did not advance to the Final Four when they started the season #1.
2. Penn State’s Preseason vs. Final Rankings
Here’s a look at Penn State’s history in the Preseason and Final polls. Note that a true Final poll didn’t arrive until 1995 (previously, there wasn’t an official poll after the tournament), and note that only 20 teams were ranked until 1992 [table is omitted here, but it's included in the DigNittanyVolleyball post]
3. Pac-12 Places 9 Teams in AVCA Preseason Top 25
A record nine Pac-12 teams are ranked in the preseason (with Oregon State also receiving votes):
◾Stanford (2),
◾Washington (10),
◾Oregon (13),
◾Arizona State (16),
◾Arizona (17),
◾UCLA (20),
◾USC (22),
◾Utah (23), and
◾Colorado (24)
The most Pac-12 teams to be ranked in the preseason previously was seven (2010, 1995, 1994).
4. Stanford Keeps up Top-10 Preseason Ranking Streak
Stanford is ranked #2, and how’s this for amazing: the Cardinal is the only program in the nation to appear in the top 10 of every preseason poll since its inception in 1982.
1. Penn State Ranked #1 for Eighth Time
Penn State’s #1 ranking in the August 12th AVCA Preseason Poll marked the eighth time in program history that the Nittany Lions have been ranked #1 in the AVCA’s Preseason Poll. In five of the previous seven instances, the Nittany Lions also finished the year at #1. They finished #2 in 1998 and #9 in 2011 (losing to eventual national champion UCLA in the round of 16) — the only time they did not advance to the Final Four when they started the season #1.
2. Penn State’s Preseason vs. Final Rankings
Here’s a look at Penn State’s history in the Preseason and Final polls. Note that a true Final poll didn’t arrive until 1995 (previously, there wasn’t an official poll after the tournament), and note that only 20 teams were ranked until 1992 [table is omitted here, but it's included in the DigNittanyVolleyball post]
3. Pac-12 Places 9 Teams in AVCA Preseason Top 25
A record nine Pac-12 teams are ranked in the preseason (with Oregon State also receiving votes):
◾Stanford (2),
◾Washington (10),
◾Oregon (13),
◾Arizona State (16),
◾Arizona (17),
◾UCLA (20),
◾USC (22),
◾Utah (23), and
◾Colorado (24)
The most Pac-12 teams to be ranked in the preseason previously was seven (2010, 1995, 1994).
4. Stanford Keeps up Top-10 Preseason Ranking Streak
Stanford is ranked #2, and how’s this for amazing: the Cardinal is the only program in the nation to appear in the top 10 of every preseason poll since its inception in 1982.
