Volleyball Ends Season Ranked Seventh
December 10, 2001 | Volleyball
The University of Wisconsin volleyball team ended the 2001 season ranked seventh in the USA Today/AVCA Top 25 Coaches poll released Dec. 19. The rating ties the third-highest season-ending rank for the UW program. The Badgers finished second in 2000, fifth in 1997 and seventh in 1998.
The UW recorded its ninth-straight 20-win season in 2001 at 27-4. Wisconsin won the Big Ten Conference title at 19-1, marking the first time in program history that the Badgers have won back-to-back league titles.
Wisconsin made its 10th NCAA Tournament appearance in 2001, advancing to an NCAA Regional for the seventh time in program history.
NCAA champion Stanford (33-2) ended the season ranked first and picked up 62 of 65 first-place votes. Long Beach State (33-1) picked up the other three first-place votes to finish second. NCAA semifinalists Nebraska (31-2) and Arizona (25-5) are ranked third and fourth, respectively, while USC (25-4) rounded out the top five teams.
Among the Big Ten, five teams ended the year ranked among the top 25 schools. Wisconsin is the top-ranked team at seventh. Ohio State (27-4) ended the season 12th while Penn State (22-8) was ranked 17th. Michigan State (21-8) and Illinois (21-9) are ranked 19th and 20th, respectively. Minnesota (19-13) received votes.
