Sept. 26, 2016 AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV volleyball team gained five points to improve its standing in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division I Top 25 Poll. The Rebels moved up to No. 31 with its haul of 11 points in this week's iteration.
The Scarlet & Gray, which is 13-1 overall and 2-0 in the Mountain West, has been mentioned in the "receiving votes" portion of the last four surveys. The voters first took notice of UNLV in the week #2 poll (September 5) and each subsequent week the Southern Nevada squad has crept closer and closer to the top 25. The Rebels registered six points in each of the previous polls and, in the process, they moved from No. 40 (September 5) to No. 37 (September 12) to No. 34 (September 19).
UNLV's 13-1 start is the best in program history and it began with a record-setting 11 consecutive wins. Additionally, those 11 victories coupled with a 3-1 victory over Fresno State in the 2015 season finale formed a program-best 12-match win streak that came to a conclusion in a loss to then-No. 9 BYU on September 17 in Provo, Utah.
The Rebels opened Conference play last week with home wins over Boise State and Air Force; however, they will only play twice at home in their next eight outings. A trip to the Golden State for matches at Fresno State and San Jose State this Thursday (September 29) and Saturday (October 1) kicks off this lengthy stretch that will see UNLV play additional road contests at New Mexico, Utah State, Air Force and Boise State. Home bouts against Wyoming (October 6) and Colorado State (October 8) are scheduled two weekends from now.
The 2007 squad was the first in program history to break into the top 25 with back-to-back weekly showings at No. 25 -- November 5 and 12. In all, the team that won the MW Championship and earned the Conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament was listed in the poll -- either ranked or "receiving votes" -- for 13 straight weeks. Prior to this year's play, the team had last received votes (four points) on October 20, 2008.
