IU East volleyball 38th in NAIA preseason poll

IU East volleyball 38th in NAIA preseason poll

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IU East volleyball 38th in NAIA preseason poll

The Red Wolves haven't played a match yet, and they've already been voted one of the top 38 teams in the nation.

Now comes the hard part: earning that ranking and perhaps improving it.

The Indiana University East volleyball team is ranked 38th in the 2010 Tachikara-NAIA Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll.

The Red Wolves received seven rating points in a poll of NAIA coaches and officials.

"It's a great ranking. Now we've got to earn it," said IU East coach Charlie Brown.

Reigning national champion Fresno Pacific University was a unanimous choice for No. 1.

IU East went 30-12 last season and advanced to the NAIA National Championship.

The Red Wolves open the regular season Friday at the Grace College Ramada Plaza Tournament.

"We're 38th, but we're not settling," Brown said. "I want to get higher. It's a matter of getting healthy, pushing harder and playing well."

It's IU East's first appearance in an NAIA volleyball preseason rating, but it's not the Red Wolves' first appearance in the poll. IU East received votes in the first five Tachikara-NAIA Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 Polls of the 2009 regular season, peaking at No. 37.

Click http://naia.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/spec-rel/081710aab.html to view the full poll.

NOTE: Indiana University East Sports Information Director Kyle Wright is a member of the NAIA volleyball poll voting panel. Wright's poll did include IU East, but the point total received by the Red Wolves indicates at least one other national rater also voted for IU East.