KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The College of Idaho extended a string of years ranked in the Top-25 to 14 in a row, as the Lady Yotes will begin the 2018 season ranked No. 7 in the NAIA Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll, released this afternoon by the national office.
It marks the highest preseason ranking for the Yotes since starting the 2012 season ranked No. 6.
C of I received 296 voter points from the 16 national raters - sharing the No. 7 spot with Northwestern (Iowa). Defending national champion, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) earned the top spot, followed by Dordt (Iowa), Missouri Baptist, Viterbo (Wis.) and Park (Mo.)
Five Cascade Conference teams are in the tabulation - No. 7 C of I, No. 13 Southern Oregon, No. 15 Eastern Oregon, No. 19 Corban and No. 24 Northwest - while five of the Yotes eight preseason opponents are in the poll - No. 6 Westmont, No. 12 Montana Tech, with Embry-Riddle, Rocky Mountain and Vanguard all receiving votes.
The Lady Yotes open up the 2018 season tomorrow at Noon (PT), meeting Embry-Riddle at the HIU Summer Slam - with live video available at http://portal.stretchinternet.com/hiu.
