The Kentucky volleyball team received votes in the preseason CSTV/AVCA Top 25 Preseason Poll, released this week by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. The Wildcats earned 24 points as one of five Southeastern Conference squads either ranked or receiving votes in the preseason poll.

The Wildcats received the third-most votes of any SEC program behind ranked squads Florida (No. 7) and LSU (No. 23). League schools Alabama and Tennessee also are receiving votes.

UK is coming off one of its best seasons in recent history after finishing 19-12 in 2006 and fourth in the SEC with a mark of 11-9 in league play. The Cats made their second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and earned their first win in the Big Dance since the 1992 season with a win over No. 20 Ohio. Kentucky was picked to finish second in the SEC East this season in a vote of the league?s coaches.

Kentucky has been ranked in three preseason polls in school history (1983, 1992, 1993), with its last preseason ranking coming in 1993 when the squad was tabbed 18th in the nation. The Wildcats, who have been ranked in the final AVCA poll five times in school history, were last a ranked squad when Kentucky finished the 1993 season ranked 13th.

The Cats knocked off two ranked squads last season for the first time since 1993 when they defeated No. 18 Tennessee and No. 20 Ohio.

Kentucky begins its regular season Aug. 24-25, when it travels to Cedar Falls, Iowa, to participate in the Northern Iowa Tournament. The Wildcats will face Wright State, Western Michigan and host and NCAA participant Northern Iowa in the two-day tournament.