The Penn State Women’s Volleyball dynasty is expected to continue for at least another year, as the team is ranked No. 2 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association preseason poll released yesterday.  Penn State received three first place votes, second to only last year’s national champion Texas.

Penn State finished third in the final coaches poll last season after losing to Oregon in four sets in the Final Four. Coach Russ Rose is back for his 35th season, and the team returns six starters including first team All-Americans Micha Hancock and Ariel Scott, as well as Big Ten Freshman of the Year Megan Courtney.

Penn State’s schedule includes matches against nine teams ranked in the preseason top 25, along with six Big Ten teams. Perhaps toughest of all, Penn State will face Texas and ninth-ranked Florida at the Nike Big Four Invitational in early September. The Nittany Lions will open its season at the Penn State Invitational on August 30-31, which includes matches against Poland, Syracuse, and #19 Louisville.