BeachBows Picked Ninth in AVCA Preseason Poll

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The 2024 AVCA collegiate beach volleyball preseason poll was announced Friday with the Rainbow Wahine selected ninth. It marks the third straight year the BeachBows are ranked in the top 10 entering the season.

Two-time defending NCAA champions USC is tabbed as the preseason favorite. The Women of Troy will visit Honolulu next week and headline the season-opening Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Beach Classic. The powerhouse field also includes No. 2 UCLA, No. 5 LMU and No. 7 Stanford.

The Rainbow Wahine, who made their second straight NCAA Tournament last year, finished 27-9 overall and ranked No. 10 in the final 2023 AVCA poll. Third-year head coach Evan Silberstein returns 16 players from last year's team, highlighted by two-time All-American Kaylee Glagau. Four newcomers join the team, while two-time all-Big West player Pani Napoleon rejoins the fold.

USC received all but one of the 22 first-place votes. National runner-up UCLA received the only other first place vote. NCAA semifinals Florida State and TCU came in at No. 3 and 4 respectively. Defending Big West champions Long Beach State is just behind UH at No. 10, while fellow Big West squad is at No. 20.

The BeachBows open the season with the Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku Beach Classic, Feb. 22-24, at world-famous Queen's Beach. The tournament features five Top 10 squads and three of the top five teams in the nation. UH opens the tournament on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 9 a.m. vs. No. 5 LMU.

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Players Mentioned

#34 Pani Napoleon: 5' 7"; Redshirt Freshman

#7 Kaylee Glagau: 6' 2"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#34 Pani Napoleon
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Freshman

#7 Kaylee Glagau
: 6' 2"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#34 Pani Napoleon

#7 Kaylee Glagau

Players Mentioned

#34 Pani Napoleon

#7 Kaylee Glagau