LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Hawai'i women's sand volleyball team is ranked fifth in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Preseason Poll. Pepperdine, the 2012 national champion and 2013 runner-up, has been picked as the preseason favorite.
 
UH opens its season on Friday, March 7 when it hosts USC, Loyola Marymount and defending national champion Long Beach State. USC and LBSU are ranked No. 2 and 3, respectively, in the preseason poll.
 
More than 40 schools are fielding a sand volleyball squad this year, more than double the number that participated during the inaugural 2012 season of the emerging collegiate sport. UH will play a minimum of six of the preseason top 10 teams.
 
For the third straight year the AVCA will host the Collegiate Sand Volleyball Championship in Gulf Shores, Ala., with the dates set for May 2-4. The competition will consist of both a team championship, which will include the top six NCAA women's sand squads, and a pairs championship, which will consist of the top 10 collegiate tandems.
 
UH finished 6-7 in dual matches last year and did not qualify for the national championship. However, UH boasts a strong squad this year with seven returnees and 10 newcomers, including Florida State transfer and 2012 All-American Brittany Tiegs.
 
2014 AVCA Collegiate Sand Preseason Poll
1. Pepperdine  
2. USC
3. LBSU
4. Florida State
5. Hawai'i
6. UCLA
7. Nebraska
8. Saint Mary's
9. Florida International
10. Stanford