The Southern Oregon University volleyball team is ranked No. 22 in the NAIA preseason coaches' poll, marking their eighth appearance in 11 years in the Top 25. This year, they are the only new team entering the rankings that wasn't part of last year's postseason Top 25. The Raiders will kick off their season at home during the Raider Invitational, facing Simpson (Calif.) and Saint Mary (Neb.) on Friday. Next week, they will face tough competition in the Hope International Summer Slam against No. 15 The Master's (Calif.) and top-ranked Northwestern (Iowa). The Cascade Conference boasts strong representation, with six teams ranked in the poll.

By the Numbers
  • SOU is currently ranked No. 22, the only non-postseason team ranked.
  • 12 of SOU's 30 regular season matches are against ranked teams.
State of Play
  • SOU was picked to finish third in the preseason CCC coaches' poll.
  • The Cascade Conference had the most teams ranked, including No. 2 Eastern Oregon and No. 5 Corban.
What's Next

The Raiders will face their first ranked opponents in the upcoming tournament, which could have implications for their season ranking and confidence heading into conference play.

Bottom Line

SOU's preseason ranking sets a high expectation as they aim for strong performances against tough competitors, with potential implications for candidate postseason positioning.