Aug. 12, 2005
Normal, Ill. -
The tradition of Illinois State volleyball shows in the inaugural 2005 CSTV/AVCA Coaches Top 25. Although the Redbirds aren't in the poll, Illinois State has met 24 of the 25 teams at least once in the past 30 seasons, and played a total of 132 matches against those ranked teams.
Nebraska, ranked No. 1, has played Illinois State 10 times (the `Birds and Huskers have split those 10 meetings), while the `Birds have a 14-8 series edge over No. 10 Wisconsin. Only No. 24 St. Mary's (Calif.) hasn't met Illinois State. In the 23 seasons the American Volleyball Coaches Association has operated an in-season poll, the Redbirds have met 102 nationally ranked teams; that's nearly 1 out of every eight matches the Redbirds have played since 1982.
Behind Nebraska in the poll are No. 2 Washington and No. 3 Stanford, the defending NCAA Champions who played at Redbird Arena just three seasons ago.
Redbird coach Sharon Dingman, whose team opens the 2005 season Aug. 26 against an Illinois team which was among those also receiving votes, appreciates the heritage and long-term commitment Illinois State has made to playing the best.
"Obviously, the commitment to playing an excellent schedule goes back a lot further than my five years here," said Dingman, who was the visiting coach when she brought her Butler teams to Redbird Arena in 1992 and 1994. "I really think Redbird Arena and our fans have the biggest impact on our ability to schedule. Everyone wants to play at home, but if they are not at home, they want to play at a great facility with a classy volleyball environment. At Illinois State, they've done things the right way for a long time."
Dingman has voted in the CSTV/AVCA poll for nine of her 15 years as a head coach. She thinks it becomes a bigger challenge each year to be one of just 60 coaches trying to pick the nation's best throughout the season.
"It gets tougher to vote every year," said Dingman. "This year, for example, I really think Notre Dame (also receiving votes) and (2004 Missouri Valley Conference champion) Wichita State belong in it, and, with everybody back but the libero from a team that won 23 matches last year, Missouri State certainly deserves that kind of consideration. It's hard for the voters because there are just so many good teams."
CSTV/AVCA Division I
Coaches Volleyball Preseason Poll
Rank Team (lst place votes) '04 Record
1. Nebraska (35) 30-2
2. Washington (15) 28-3
3. Stanford (8) 30-6
4. Hawaii (1) 30-1
5. Penn State (1) 29-3
6. Minnesota 33-5
7. Southern California 23-6
8. Florida 28-5
9. Tennessee 32-3
10. Wisconsin 22-10
11. Texas 26-5
12. Ohio State 30-4
13. UCLA 20-11
14. Louisville 30-3
15. UC-Santa Barbara 24-4
16. Texas A&M 19-9
17. Arizona 19-11
18. San Diego 24-5
19. California 17-12
20. Georgia Tech 27-7
21. Missouri 20-9
22. Colorado State 26-4
23. St. Mary's (Calif.) 25-4
24. Long Beach State 24-7
25. Pepperdine 10-15
