The University of Florida volleyball team is ranked the nation’s No. 1 team in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top-25 Poll for the second consecutive week, the Lexington, Ky., based organization announced Monday afternoon.
It marks the seventh time in program history that the Gators have been ranked No. 1 nationally and the second time this season. Florida was ranked No. 1 for five consecutive weeks during the 1996 campaign. The Gators are 14-1 all-time when playing with a No. 1 record.
Florida has played perhaps the nation’s toughest schedule during the 2010 season, facing nine top-25 opponents so far this year. The Gators currently boast a record of 16-1 overall and 9-0 in the Southeastern Conference through their first 17 matches.
The Gators hold the nation’s fifth-longest streak of consecutive weeks ranked in the AVCA poll, as Florida has been ranked in the top-25 for 299 consecutive weeks, dating back to Sept. 17, 1991. UF has been ranked among the nation’s top-10 in 245 of those weeks.
Stanford checks in at No. 2 in this week’s AVCA Top-25 Poll after holding the No. 1 spot for four consecutive weeks earlier this season. Nebraska is ranked third with Hawaii fourth and California fifth. SEC opponents LSU and Tennessee are ranked 17th and 21st, respectively. Ole Miss also is receiving votes.
The next AVCA poll will be released on Oct. 25.
Florida returns to action on Wednesday it plays host to No. 21 Tennessee. Opening serve is slated for 8 p.m. ET and the match will be carried live on ESPNU with Beth Mowins and Elizabeth Moreau, and on WRUF Sports Radio 850 with Tom Collett and Missy Whittemore.
For all of the latest information on Florida volleyball, please log on to www.GatorZone.com/volleyball. Follow Florida Volleyball on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GatorZoneVB and Coach Mary Wise on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GatorMary.
AVCA TOP-25 COACHES POLL (POLL 8 – OCT. 18, 2010)
1. Florida (29) – 16-1
2. Stanford (25) – 16-1
3. Nebraska (4) – 17-1
4. Hawaii (2) – 16-1
5. California – 17-1
6. Illinois – 15-3
7. Washington – 15-3
8. Southern California – 15-3
9. Penn State – 15-3
10. Texas – 12-5
11. UCLA – 13-5
12. Iowa State – 13-4
13. Michigan – 18-2
13. Michigan – 18-2
14. Northern Iowa – 18-2
15. Colorado State – 17-2
16. Oregon – 16-3
17. LSU – 17-2
18. Dayton – 16-3
19. San Diego – 15-4
20. Minnesota – 14-6
21. Tennessee – 15-4
22. Northwestern – 15-4
23. Cincinnati – 17-4
24. Florida State – 14-5
25. Arizona – 14-6
Others Receiving Votes and Appearing on Two or More Ballots: Long Beach State, Duke, Arizona State, St. Mary’s (Calif.), Cal State Fullerton, Ohio State, Tulsa, Purdue, Oklahoma, Pepperdine, Ole Miss.
