Colorado College, which returns seven of its top eight players from last year's squad that posted a 27-12 record and a first-round victory in the NCAA Tournament, is ranked No. 18 in the 2009 Preseason Division III Coaches Top 25 Poll, the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced today.

It marks the first time the Tigers have been ranked in the preseason poll since starting the 2000 campaign at No. 13.

Defending national champion Emory University, which came from behind to defeat CC in the second round of last year's NCAA Tournament, is ranked No. 1.

The Tigers are among three Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference teams in the top-25 poll. Southwestern University is No. 8 and Trinity University is No. 12.

Two teams that will play in the 2009 Molten Volleyball Colorado College Invitational were mentioned in the poll. The University of Puget Sound, which meets CC on Sept. 12, was ranked No. 19. Stevens Institute of Technology, which faces the Tigers on Sept. 11, is listed first among “others receiving votes”.

Colorado College opens its 2009 season on Tuesday, Sept. 1, playing host to Johnson & Wales University at 7 p.m. MST.