LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the 47th consecutive time, the University of Dayton received votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top-25 Poll.
In the preseason poll, Dayton’s 42 votes are the 28th highest total. UD’s streak of receiving votes dates back to Nov. 23, 2009.
Dayton, which will return 11-of-12 players for next season, opens the 2012 campaign against two teams nationally ranked in the preseason.
The Flyers will open the Flyer Classic on Friday, Aug. 24, as the Flyers host the 2011 national runner-up and preseason No. 7 ranked Illinois Fighting Illini at 7 p.m. ET in the Frericks Center.
UD will then host the No. 11 ranked Pepperdine Waves on Saturday, Aug. 25 and the Ohio Bobcats the following day on Sunday, Aug. 26.
Dayton's schedule features a non-conference slate of 10 NCAA tournament teams, five AVCA Top 25 teams and 11 top 50 RPI teams from 2011. Dayton will play 16 matches against teams that won at least 20 matches last season.
The Flyers finished the season with a 25-7 record, captured the program’s ninth A-10 regular season title, seventh A-10 Championship title and made a fifth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Championship. Head Coach Kelly Sheffield was named the Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season, while the Flyers featured a program-best three AVCA All-Americans.
Fans will get their first glance at the Flyers at the annual Red & Blue Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 18 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The event will be held at the Frericks Center and admission to all Dayton volleyball matches is free.
