MADISON, Wis. – For the fifth straight season, the Wisconsin volleyball team opens the year ranked among the top 10 teams in the country. The Badgers are ranked fifth in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Preseason Top 25 poll, released Tuesday.
 
UW opened the 2018 season ranked ninth, the 2017 season ranked seventh, the 2016 season ranked fourth, the 2015 season tied for fifth and the 2014 season ranked sixth.
 
Reigning NCAA champion Stanford (34-1 in 2018) opens the season ranked first while 2018 NCAA runner-up Nebraska (29-7) is ranked second. Minnesota (27-4), Texas (23-5) and Wisconsin (25-7), respectively, round out the top five schools.
 
The Big Ten Conference dominates the poll with five teams in the top 10 and seven schools in the top 20. In addition to Nebraska, Minnesota and Wisconsin in the top five, Illinois (32-4) is ranked sixth and Penn State (26-8) is ranked eighth.  Michigan (24-10) and Purdue (24-9) are ranked 15^th and 17^th, respectively.
 
The Badgers will face seven teams ranked in the preseason poll during the 2019 season. In addition to six Big Ten foes, Wisconsin will also face No. 13 Washington (20-13) and No. 20 Baylor (20-9) during the 2019 non-conference season. Other non-conferences opponents in 2019 include Florida State and South Carolina, which receive votes in the preseason poll.
 
Wisconsin opened practice for the 2019 season on Aug. 10. The team hosts its annual Red vs. White scrimmage on Aug. 24 at noon in the UW Field House. Admission is free.
 

AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll
Rank	School (1st Place Votes)	Total Points
1	Stanford (62)	1598
2	Nebraska (1)	1451
3	Minnesota	1414
4	Texas	1385
5	Wisconsin	1329
6	Illinois	1258
7	Kentucky	1204
8	Penn State (1)	1182
9	BYU	1111
10	Florida	1028
11	Oregon	934
12	Pittsburgh	827
13	Washington	797
14	Southern California	664
15	Michigan	645
16	Marquette	596
17	Purdue	571
18	Creighton	457
19	Tennessee	438
20	Baylor	407
21	San Diego	313
22	Washington State	289
23	Cal Poly	213
24	Arizona	157
25	Louisville	120

 
Others receiving votes and listed on two or more ballots: 
Missouri 100; Utah 56; Colorado State 51; UCF 45; Pepperdine 36;
Florida State 33; Hawai'i 13; Northern Iowa 13; TCU 10; UCLA 7;
Cincinnati 6; Rice 6; South Carolina 6; Texas State 6;
Loyola Marymount 4; Colorado 3; Kansas 2;