HONOLULU – For the fourth time in University of Hawai'i men's volleyball history, the Rainbow Warriors will open the season as the nation's top-ranked team. However, this year marks the first time that UH is the preseason poll favorite.
 
"Our ranking is a reflection of all the hard work the players have put in over the past several years," head coach Charlie Wade said. "Many people have contributed in many ways to help our program grow and thrive.
 
"It is encouraging to know that the path we have chosen for our program and our student-athletes has led us to this point. We are determined more than ever to stay committed to what we believe allows us to be successful and brings us closer to our goal of bringing the state of Hawai'i its next National Championship."
 
Hawai'i earned 14 of 16 first place votes and 238 points. UCLA was second (197), earning one first place vote followed by BYU (185) and defending national champion Long Beach State (182), who earned the other first place vote.
 
The AVCA created the preseason poll in 2007. Prior to that, UH earned the No. 1 ranking in the first poll of the season in 1989, 1996, and 2003.
 
Last season, the Warriors opened at No. 3, their highest preseason ranking since 2005. UH finished the year at No. 2 after falling in the national championship match to Long Beach State.
 
In addition to UH and LBSU, three other Big West Conference teams are in the preseason Top 15 – UC Santa Barbara (5^th), UC Irvine (8^th), and CSUN (13^th).
 
UH's schedule includes nine Top 15 opponents, including seven in the Top 10. The Warriors are scheduled to host No. 3 BYU, No. 4 LBSU and No. 8 UC Irvine and travel for road matches to No. 5 UCSB, No. 6 Lewis, No. 7 Stanford, No. 9 Pepperdine, No. 11 Loyola, and No. 13 CSUN.
 
Head coach Charlie Wade begins his 11^th season in Mānoa. He has led the Warriors to three appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Last season, the Warriors finished 28-3, captured their first Big West Conference Tournament title and earned the top seed in the NCAA Tournament.