Slideshow Previous Next

The Stanford women's volleyball team begins the season ranked No. 2 nationally, according to the American Volleyball Coaches Association, which announced its annual preseason poll Wednesday.

Stanford, which received 35 first-place votes, returns four starters plus its libero from last year's NCAA championship team.

The Cardinal has been ranked in every AVCA preseason poll since its inception in 1982 and is one of two teams, with Penn State, to appear in all 36 NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournaments.

Stanford returns a total of 11 letterwinners, including AVCA National Freshman of the Year Kathryn Plummer and three-time All-American Merete Lutz.

Sophomores Audriana Fitzmorris (AVCA), Jenna Gray (VolleyballMag.com) and Morgan Hentz (VolleyballMag.com) were all honorable mention All-Americans last season.