March 21, 2007

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Virginia women's varsity eight crew is ranked third nationally in the preseason poll, the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association announced.

Princeton, which earned 12 of the 24 first-place votes, earned the top spot in the poll. California earned five first-place votes to garner second, while the Cavaliers earned the remaining seven first-place votes for third. Yale, Brown, Ohio State, Washington, Washington State, Tennessee, and Southern Cal rounded out the Top 10.

The third-ranked Cavaliers open their spring season with No. 15 Michigan and No. 6 Ohio State on March 31 at Lake Monticello.

WOMEN'S NCAA DIVISION I VARSITY EIGHTS
Preseason Poll/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association

1.	Princeton (12)		455
2.	California (5)		440
3.	VIRGINIA (7)		392
4.	Yale			367
5.	Brown			362
6.	Ohio State		358
7.	Washington		322
8.	Washington State	279
9.	Tennessee		236
10.	Southern Cal		288
11.	Notre Dame		214
12.	Stanford		209
13.	Minnesota		184
14.	Michigan State		174
15.	Michigan		141
16.	Wisconsin		140
17.	UCLA			136
18.	Harvard			99
19.	Louisville		88
20.	Northeastern		54