Two C-USA Volleyball Teams Ranked in USA Today/AVCA Coaches Poll

Julie DuPont

For the first time since the 1996 season, Two Conference USA schools are ranked in the latest USA Today/AVCA Coaches poll. Louisville is ranked No. 21, while Cincinnati has broken into the Top 25 for the first time in program history.

The last time C-USA had two schools ranked in the top 25 was on Dec. 24, 1996, when Louisville finished the season 16th in the nation, and USF garnered a No. 22 ranking.

Cincinnati, who is third in the conference with a 17-2 overall record and 3-0 in league play, secured the national ranking after an upset of then-No. 17 Louisville on Friday night. UC had been receiving votes in the poll for the past four weeks. The Cardinals are now 9-4 overall and 2-1 in league action.

Both Cincinnati and Louisville return to action on Friday, Oct. 17. UC visits Charlotte, while U of L travels to East Carolina.

USA Today/AVCA Coaches poll
Rank School (First-Place Votes)
1 USC (65)
2 Hawai'i
3 Florida
4 Georgia Tech
5 California
6 Pepperdine
7 Stanford
8-tie Nebraska
8-tie Kansas State
10 Northern Iowa
11 UCLA
12 Washington
13 Penn State
14 Santa Clara
15 Notre Dame
16 UC Santa Barbara
17 San Diego
18 Michigan State
19 Loyola Marymount
20 Colorado State
21 LOUISVILLE
22 Texas A&M
23 Wisconsin
24 Pacific
25 CINCINNATI

Others receiving points and listed on two or more ballots: Minnesota 82, Michigan 63, Missouri 58, San Francisco 43, Florida A&M 36, Ohio 23, Illinois 21, Arkansas 19, Arizona 17, Fresno State 16, UC Irvine 14, Southwest Missouri 12, Long Beach State 11, Utah 8, Maryland 2