The Stanford women's volleyball team begins the season atop the American Volleyball Coaches Association preseason poll. It is the 70th No. 1 ranking all-time for the program.

Stanford has been ranked in every AVCA preseason poll since its inception in 1982, and is No. 1 to start the season for the first time since 2002. The Cardinal, which received 43 first-place votes, returns five starters plus its libero from last year's NCAA semifinal team. Stanford is one of two teams, with Penn State, to appear in all 37 NCAA women's volleyball Tournaments.

Stanford returns 14 letterwinners to its roster from the 2017 team, including AVCA National Player of the Year Kathryn Plummer.

Joining Plummer on the AVCA All-America first team a year ago were setter Jenna Gray and libero Morgan Hentz. Junior Audriana Fitzmorris was a second team All-American in 2017, while senior Tami Alade landed on the honorable mention list.

Defending NCAA champion Nebraska was tabbed No. 2 in the poll, collecting 20 first-place votes. Rounding out the top 5 were Texas, Minnesota and Kentucky.