KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A year after winning the Association of Independent Institutions title in its first year of existence, the Cal State San Marcos women's volleyball team debuted at No. 23 in the Tachikara-NAIA Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Top 25 poll, it was announced Tuesday.

The Cougars, who begin the 2012 season tomorrow at the La Sierra Tournament in Riverside, garnered 140 total points in the poll, finishing ahead of No. 24 Westmont and No. 25 Indiana East. CSUSM is the only A.I.I. team to be included in the Top 25.

“To be ranked in the NAIA polls is definitely an honor.  We are situated in a very respectful class of programs top to bottom, along with many teams who will break into the rankings after this weekend as well. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to compete and have another fun, exciting season,” said CSUSM head coach Andrea Leonard.

CSUSM went 29-8 overall and finished the year at No. 24 in the final 2011 NAIA regular season poll. Six starters and 12 letterwinners return to a Cougar squad that won 20 of their final 23 games down the stretch last season.

Defending national champion Texas at Brownsville earned 20 first-place votes and 621 points overall to take the No. 1 spot in the poll. National runner-up Concordia (Calif.) finished at No. 2 with a pair of first place points and 603 points. Lee (Tenn.), Columbia (Mo.) and Biola rounded out the top five, respectively.

The Cougars' 2012 schedule is stocked full of contests against preseason Top 25 teams. CSUSM will play at least nine matches against teams in the preseason poll, beginning with a test against No. 8 Lewis-Clark State at the Biola Tournament on August 24. Leonard's team will also face No. 7 Rocky Mountain (Sept. 2), No. 10 Vanguard (Oct. 12), No. 21 Carroll (Sept. 1) and No. 24 Westmont (Sept. 21, Oct. 16, Nov. 2).

CSUSM's first home match of the season will be Sept. 11 against No. 2 Concordia. The Cougars and Eagles will also clash on Oct. 9 in Irvine.

The Cougars open the season tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. against San Diego Christian. CSUSM follows with a match against Hope International at 2:00 p.m.