WACO (August 18, 2009)--The Baylor volleyball team received votes in the Preseason AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll released on Tuesday afternoon by American Volleyball Coaches Association officials.

The Bears received five points in the poll, ranking them 44th among all vote getters. Baylor is one of six Big 12 teams receiving votes in the poll, led by preseason Big 12 favorite Texas and Nebraska, ranked second and third. Penn State topped the preseason ranking, receiving 1,487 points and 52 first-place votes.

“It is our goal to continue to move up the poll,” head coach Jim Barnes said. “With the way practice has gone this first week, we certainly have the potential to do that.”

The Bears opened fall practice on Aug. 11, and will wrap up this week with their annual Green and Gold scrimmage at the Ferrell Center on Saturday, Aug. 22 at noon. A luncheon, featuring an address and question-and-answer session by Barnes and Bear players, will take place after the scrimmage in the Ferrell Center’s Stone Room.

The Bears’ season opener is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 28 at the Flo Hyman Invitational Tournament in Houston, Texas. Baylor will take on Southeastern Louisiana a 11:30 a.m., and then battle Houston at 7:30 p.m.