Volleyball ends season ranked fourth in final coaches' poll
December 22, 2014 | Volleyball
Dec. 22, 2014
MADISON, Wis. - For the second straight year, the Wisconsin volleyball team ended the season ranked among the top-five teams in the country. The Badgers finished the 2014 season ranked fourth in the final American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coaches Top-25 poll, released Monday.
It marks the 16th time since 1990 that the Badgers have been ranked or received votes in the final poll, including three times in the top five. Wisconsin ended both the 2013 and 2000 seasons ranked No. 2 in the nation, while ranked fifth at the conclusion of the 1997 year.
NCAA champion Penn State (36-3) ended the season ranked No. 1 after winning it second straight national title. Stanford (33-2), which lost to Penn State in the NCAA semifinals, was ranked second while NCAA runner-up BYU (30-5) finished third. Wisconsin (31-3) and Texas (27-3) round out the top five.
In addition to Penn State and Wisconsin, the Big Ten Conference had five teams ranked or receiving votes in the final poll. Nebraska (23-10) wrapped up the season at No. 8, Illinois (26-8) came in at No. 11 and Ohio State (23-12) took the No. 13 spot. Michigan State (19-14) and Purdue (22-10) received votes in the final poll.
The Badgers return seven letterwinners and four starters in 2015, including Lauren Carlini, the 2014 Big Ten Player of the Year and Setter of the Year, as well as Taylor Morey, the 2014 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
AVCA Division I Coaches Top-25 Poll
Final Poll: December 22, 2014
| Rank | School (First-Place Votes) | Total Points | 2014 Record | Previous Week |
| 1 | Penn State (60) | 1500 | 36-3 | 4 |
| 2 | Stanford | 1432 | 33-2 | 1 |
| 3 | BYU | 1374 | 30-5 | 12 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | 1306 | 31-3 | 2 |
| 5 | Texas | 1276 | 27-3 | 6 |
| 6 | Florida | 1183 | 28-4 | 5 |
| 7 | North Carolina | 1115 | 29-3 | 7 |
| 8 | Nebraska | 1074 | 23-10 | 11 |
| 9 | Washington | 1049 | 31-3 | 3 |
| 10 | Florida State | 921 | 30-3 | 8 |
| 11 | Illinois | 900 | 26-8 | 10 |
| 12 | Colorado State | 853 | 31-3 | 9 |
| 13 | Ohio State | 744 | 23-12 | 18 |
| 14 | Oregon | 681 | 23-10 | 16 |
| 15 | UCLA | 659 | 22-12 | 17 |
| 16 | Arizona | 613 | 24-10 | 14 |
| 17 | Kentucky | 497 | 27-6 | 13 |
| 18 | Utah | 443 | 20-13 | 20 |
| 19 | Long Beach State | 407 | 27-5 | 15 |
| 20 | Oregon State | 376 | 20-13 | NR |
| 21 | Colorado | 333 | 20-14 | 19 |
| 22 | Arizona State | 231 | 20-14 | 22 |
| 23 | Hawai'i | 204 | 22-7 | 23 |
| 24 | Arkansas-Little Rock | 96 | 30-5 | NR |
| 25 | Duke | 74 | 22-8 | 21 |
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Others receiving votes and listed on two or more ballots:Â Michigan State 33; Southern California 30; Purdue 20; LSU 17; Western Kentucky 13; Dayton 11; Alabama 9; Iowa State 8; Miami (FL) 8; Kansas 7
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