Florida Southern College volleyball received votes in the preseason edition of the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll, the organization announced on Tuesday afternoon. The first iteration of the AVCA poll placed reigning National Champion Tampa solidly in first, with the Spartans receiving 43 of the 46 first place votes given. Cal State San Bernandino, Western Washington, Washburn and Concordia-St. Paul round out the top five, while fellow Sunshine State Conference members Palm Beach Atlantic (No. 15), Barry (No. 16) and Saint Leo (RV) made appearances in the poll.
The Mocs are entering their second year under head coach Chris Keen, who led his squad to a 22-11 record and a South Region semifinal appearance in his first year at the helm. Last season the Moccasins joined four other conference foes (Tampa, Barry, Palm Beach Atlantic, Saint Leo) in representing the SSC in the NCAA South Region Tournament. Florida Southern returns junior middle blocker Rachael Martin, who last season earned AVCA All-America Honorable Mention and All-South first team honors, and sophomore middle blocker Tierra Porter, who last season ranked fourth in the conference and 19th nationally in total blocks (135). Keen also brings in new faces in four transfers and four freshmen representing six states and three countries.
This year’s squad will look to build off of a 9-3 record in its last 12 matches of the 2018 season, including two 3-1 victories against No. 12 West Florida (Oct. 19) and eventual National Champion No. 9 Tampa (Nov. 10). The Moccasins will kick off their season on Sept. 6-7 in the Terrace Hotel Classic, starting the season on Friday with a rematch of the 2017 NCAA National Championship as they host Concordia-St. Paul. FSC will play three more matches in the tournament against Hillsdale, Indiana (Pa.) and Central Missouri before heading to South Carolina to participate in the USC Aiken Invite from Sept. 13-14.
AVCA DIVISION II COACHES TOP 25 POLL: 2019 PRESEASON
| Rank | School | Total Points Adjusted | First Place Votes Adjusted |
| 1 | Tampa | 1142 | 43 |
| 2 | Cal State San Bernardino | 1040 | 0 |
| 3 | Western Washington | 1023 | 1 |
| 4 | Washburn | 981 | 2 |
| 5 | Concordia – St. Paul | 931 | 0 |
| 6 | Minnesota Duluth | 905 | 0 |
| 7 | Lewis | 828 | 0 |
| 8 | Northern State | 790 | 0 |
| 9 | Southwest Minnesota State | 732 | 0 |
| 10 | Tarleton State | 688 | 0 |
| 11 | Nebraska-Kearney | 655 | 0 |
| 12 | Ferris State | 561 | 0 |
| 13 | Wheeling Jesuit | 548 | 0 |
| 14 | Rockhurst | 512 | 0 |
| 15 | Palm Beach Atlantic | 487 | 0 |
| 16 | Barry | 462 | 0 |
| 17 | Central Missouri | 436 | 0 |
| 18 | Drury | 369 | 0 |
| 19 | Cal State L. A. | 288 | 0 |
| 20 | Cal Poly Pomona | 244 | 0 |
| 20 | Texas A&M-Commerce | 244 | 0 |
| 22 | Central Oklahoma | 179 | 0 |
| 23 | Central Washington | 144 | 0 |
| 24 | West Florida | 125 | 0 |
| 25 | Wingate | 104 | 0 |
Others receiving votes and listed on two or more ballots: Gannon 61; Colorado Mesa University 58; Michigan Tech 55; Wayne State (Neb.) 49; Azusa Pacific 47; Sioux Falls 31; Colorado School of Mines 30; Ashland 26; NW Missouri State 26; Chaminade 25; Florida Southern 23; American International 19; Saint Leo 19; Angelo State 16; Hillsdale 16; Illinois-Springfield 12; Dixie State-Utah 6; California State University San Marcos 5