NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana volleyball collected 5-of-7 first-place votes to earn the No. 1 spot in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference preconference season poll of the league's head coaches.
        The GCAC, which announced the poll Thursday, did not include total points.
        XULA has won the last nine GCAC regular-season and tournament championships. During that run XULA has lost just twice to GCAC opponents — both five-set road matches (2015 SUNO, 2016 Talladega).
        Dillard received the other two first-place votes and finished second in the poll. Edward Waters, Philander Smith and Talladega tied for third place, followed by Tougaloo in sixth and Rust in seventh.
        Volleyball is a two-semester sport at XULA this season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The NAIA moved its national championship tournament to the spring because of the pandemic, and as a result the GCAC pushed back its league schedule to a mid-February start.
        Traditionally, countable matches for U.S. collegiate women's volleyball teams are played during the fall semester only.
        XULA won in three sets at home Oct. 10 against Dillard, but that match did not count in the GCAC standings. XULA's first conference matches will be Feb. 13 at Talladega, Ala. — 11 a.m. against Talladega and 1 p.m. against Edward Waters. Venue for those matches and the GCAC Tournament (April 9-10) will be Talladega's new Dr. Billy C. Hawkins Student Activity Center.
        XULA, winner of two of its first four matches this semester, will be back on the court Saturday for a 1 p.m. match at William Carey in Hattiesburg, Miss. The host school is limiting attendance to William Carey faculty, staff, and parents of WCU players.

GCAC Volleyball 2020 Coaches Poll
1. XULA (5)
2. Dillard (2)
3. (tie) Edward Waters
3. (tie) Philander Smith
3. (tie) Talladega
6. Tougaloo
7. Rust

XULA volleyball in previous GCAC preseason polls
2019 — 1st
2018 — 1st
2017 — 1st
2016 — 1st
2015 — 1st
2014 — 1st