The AVCA will release its 2019 DII women's volleyball preseason top 25 poll on Tuesday, Aug. 20. Before we jump into the new season, let's take a look back at the final 2018 rankings and some history behind the AVCA DII women's volleyball poll.
2018 RECAP: Tampa wins the 2018 national title | Highlights
Last season, the DII women's volleyball season came to a close in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the DII Festival. It was only fitting that the Tampa Spartans walked away with the 2018 national title. Tampa has won three national championships and all three have come at the DII Festival (2006, 2014 and 2018). A bulk of that team returns, including 2018 Most Outstanding Player Sammy Mueller and fellow All-Tournament team members Katie McKiel and Taylor Fosler.
The 2018 national runners-up, Western Washington, is not as fortunate. The Vikings — who started the season 0-3 before reeling off 30-straight wins to the finals — loses a few big pieces from that run. That said, All-Tournament teamer Kayleigh Harper does return along with Alison Davenport.
2018 BRACKET: View the interactive bracket | Print yours
That, of course, left the Spartans and Vikings atop the final DII women's volleyball rankings of the season. Here's what those final 2018 rankings looked like:
| Rank | School | Votes | Record | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tampa (47) | 1199 | 35-4 | 11 |
| 2 | Western Washington (1) | 1152 | 32-5 | 2 |
| 3 | Washburn | 1081 | 33-5 | 8 |
| 4 | Cal State San Bernardino | 1015 | 28-3 | 1 |
| 5 | Minnesota Duluth | 911 | 28-6 | 4 |
| 6 | Concordia-St. Paul | 880 | 24-9 | 9 |
| 7 | Lewis | 842 | 30-9 | 25 |
| 8 | Southwest Minnesota State | 787 | 23-9 | 7 |
| 9 | Tarleton State | 752 | 32-6 | 13 |
| 10 | Northern State | 729 | 26-5 | 6 |
| 11 | Wheeling Jesuit | 675 | 37-5 | 12 |
| 12 | Nebraska-Kearney | 657 | 33-3 | 3 |
| 13 | Palm Beach Atlantic | 601 | 29-5 | 16 |
| 14 | Ferris State | 540 | 27-5 | 5 |
| 15 | Central Missouri | 498 | 25-8 | 10 |
| 16 | Rockhurst | 456 | 32-7 | 22 |
| 17 | Drury | 411 | 28-7 | 15 |
| 18 | Cal Poly Pomona | 387 | 24-6 | 17 |
| 19 | Barry | 360 | 29-4 | 18 |
| 20 | Wingate | 342 | 32-2 | 24 |
| 21 | Texas A&M-Commerce | 319 | 30-6 | 20 |
| 22 | Cal State LA | 260 | 22-6 | 14 |
| 23 | Central Oklahoma | 179 | 27-7 | 19 |
| 24 | West Florida | 138 | 26-8 | 21 |
| 25 | Central Washington | 98 | 23-6 | NR |
THE TOURNAMENT: The complete guide to the DII women's volleyball championship
Tampa entered the quarterfinals at the DII women's volleyball championship as the 11th-ranked team in the country before finishing No. 1 on the season. It was the 397th time the Spartans were ranked in program history, second-most all-time. Central Missouri is the only program to cross the 400 mark — the Jennies No. 15 final 2018 ranking being the 425th in program history.
It was the Spartans 42nd time reaching No. 1, also second-most all-time. They still have some work to do to catch Concordia-St. Paul, who nearly has Tampa doubled up, reaching No. 1 81 times, most of those in the past 12-year run.
No school, however, has been ranked in the top 10 more times that Tampa at 275. It is safe to assume that all three of those numbers will increase by one come Tuesday. Let's take a look at the top 10 in most times ranked, most times No. 1, and most top 10 appearances in the history of the AVCA DII women's volleyball poll.
Most times ranked (active DII programs only):
- Central Missouri, 425
- Tampa, 397
- Minnesota Duluth, 351
- Nebraska-Kearney, 334
- West Texas A&M, 270
- Cal State San Bernardino, 256
- Florida Southern, 238
- Augustana (SD), 232
- Regis, 217
- Concordia-St. Paul, 215
Times ranked No. 1 (active DII programs only)
- Concordia-St. Paul, 81
- Tampa, 42
- Nebraska-Kearney, 26
- Northern Michigan, 25
- West Texas A&M, 25
- Hawaii Pacific, 23
- Cal State San Bernardino, 22
- Minnesota Duluth, 20
- Barry, 13
- Central Missouri, 11
- Truman, 11
Times ranked in the top 10 (active DII programs only)
- Tampa, 275
- Central Missouri, 225
- Minnesota Duluth, 216
- Concordia-St. Paul, 206
- Nebraska-Kearney, 195
- West Texas A&M, 184
- Cal State San Bernardino, 164
- Southwest Minnesota State, 139
- Washburn, 117
- Regis, 100
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