The Seawolves are the highest ranked West Region team in the USA Today/ESPN Division II's Top 25. Elsewhere in the West, UC-San Diego is No. 14 and Seattle Pacific is No. 16.
UAA is coming off a program-best 31-4 season. The Seawolves are among seven teams in the Top 10 that made it to last season's Elite Eight, including top-ranked Michigan Tech.
Defending champion Minnesota State, which defeated UAA in the semifinals last season, is ranked sixth.
UAA has been ranked in the top 10 in 21 consecutive polls, a streak that saw the Seawolves in the No. 1 spot for four weeks last season.
The Seawolves take on a Division I powerhouse Sunday when they open the season with an exhibition game at Duke University. The Blue Devils are ranked sixth among D-I schools.
USA Today/ESPN Division II
Preseason poll
Top 10 -- 1) Michigan Tech; 2) Franklin Pierce; 3) California (Pa.); 4) Delta State; 5) Fort Lewis; 6) Minnesota State; 7) Emporia State; 8) UAA; 9) Stonehill; 10) West Texas A&M.
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