LEXINGTON, Ky. - The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) released the Division III Coaches Top 25 Preseason Poll and Southwestern earned the #5 spot. 

The Pirates ended the 2016 campaign with a 34-5 overall record and finished fourth in the nation after falling to Washington-St. Louis in the NCAA Semifinals. 

Southwestern returns 12 student-athletes from last year's squad including Honorable Mention All-America selection Kate Mitchell and AVCA West Region MVP Jamison Duck while adding six newcomers into the mix. 

National Champion Calvin led the poll and was followed, in order, by Emory, Washington-St. Louis, Northwestern (MN) and SU. 

Click here to view the complete poll

The Pirates open their 2017 schedule on the road, facing Mills, #21 Elmhurst, Western New England and UC Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz on September 1-2.