(Posted August 20, 2008)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- The bull's eye is back on Juniata's back.

The Eagle women's volleyball team was ranked number one in the nation in Wednesday's CBS College Sports Network/AVCA Division III Preseason Coaches Top 25 Poll, edging 2007 national champion Washington University (Mo.) by just four points.

Juniata (37-5 in 2007) received 588 points in the poll, while Wash U. (33-5 in 2007) garnered 584 points. Juniata received 13 out of 24 first-place votes, while Washington earned 10 first-place votes and third-ranked Emory University received one.

Emory received a total of 541 points in the voting, while Wittenberg University was fourth with 492 points and the University of La Verne (Calif.) was fifth with 466 points.

Trinity (Texas), Puget Sound, St. Thomas (Minn.), Wisconsin-Whitewater, and Carthage rounded out the top ten.

Juniata opens its season on Friday, Aug. 29, at home against Salisbury University, followed by a game against no. 17 Stevens on Saturday, Aug. 30.

Juniata will face Washington University on the third week of the season, when the Eagles travel to St. Louis to take part in the Teri Clemons Invitational on September 12-13. The Eagles and the Bears will clash in the tournament opener on Friday, Sept. 12, at 7:30 p.m. (Central), followed by games on Saturday, Sept. 13 against no. 9 Wisconsin-Whitewater and Bethel (Minn.).

The complete poll is listed below:

CBS College Sports Network/AVCA Division III Coaches Top 25 Poll
Preseason Poll - Aug. 20, 2008


1. Juniata (13) - 588 pts.
2. Washington-St. Louis (10) - 584 pts.
3. Emory (1) - 541 pts.
4. Wittenberg - 492 pts.
5. La Verne - 466 pts.
6. Trinity (Texas) - 445 pts.
7. Puget Sound - 438 pts.
8. St. Thomas (Minn.) - 431
9. Wisconsin-Whitewater - 423 pts.
10. Carthage - 403 pts.
11. Ohio Northern - 381 pts.
12. Cal State-East Bay - 299 pts.
13. Austin - 278 pts.
14. Pacific Lutheran - 272 pts.
15. Wisconsin-Oshkosh - 233 pts.
16. Concordia (Minn.) - 188 pts.
17. Stevens - 164 pts.
18. Haverford - 152 pts.
19. Wisconsin-Eau Claire - 139 pts.
20. Wisconsin-La Crosse - 129 pts.
21. Calvin - 120 pts.
22. Central (Iowa) - 95 pts.
23. Hope - 79 pts.
24. Cal Lutheran - 75 pts.
25. Christopher Newport - 60 pts.

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.