Season Begins in California

Kicking off the 2011 season, the BYU men’s volleyball team will head to California to compete in the UCSB Collegiate Invitational starting this Friday, Jan. 7, at 10 a.m.

First round action for BYU is slated against the Cal Baptist Lancers, who they defeated in this year’s preseason with a 3-0 final.

The Cougars will go on to play at 7:30 p.m., that same night, pending a loss or win. No live stats will be available for any games played on Friday but all games on Saturday will be followed through live stats.

BYU was also recently ranked fifth in the Preseason Division I-II AVCA Poll that was released Wednesday. Ending last season as the No. 2 team in the country, the Cougars were only one of six teams in the Top-15 to record 20-plus wins.