HONOLULU – The Hawai'i Pacific University Acrobatics and Tumbling team has been voted No. 6 to start the season in the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association's Preseason Poll.
The Sharks, a national quarterfinalist in 2019, has one of the strongest schedules annually and received 252 points for No. 6 ranking, behind Gannon (Pa.) with 277 for fifth and ahead of Fairmont State (W.Va.) with 234 in seventh.
Five-time defending national champion Baylor received 23 of the 26 first place votes to head the top 10 with 386 points. National runnerup Oregon got two first place votes and is second with 358 points. Quinnipiac (Conn.) is third with 330 points. Azusa Pacific received one first place vote and is fourth with 328 points.
Converse (S.C.) is eighth with 201 points, followed by King (Tenn.) with 173 points and Limestone (S.C.) with 127 points.
The Sharks have four matches against top 10 opponents, opening the season at No. 2 Oregon on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. in Matthew Knight Arena. HPU also travels to No. 4 APU on Tuesday, Feb. 18, before hosting its two home matches against No. 5 Gannon on
Friday, March 6 and meeting No. 2 Oregon on March 26. The two home matches are scheduled for 7 p.m. at The Shark Tank.
HPU also has a tri-meet on Saturday, April 4, in Glendale, Ariz., against Arizona Christian and Mary Hardin-Baylor.
+++ HPU +++
NCATA Preseason Rankings
January 27, 2020
| 1. Baylor (23) |
386 |
| 2. Oregon (2) |
358 |
| 3. Quinnipiac |
330 |
| 4. Azusa Pacific (1) |
328 |
| 5. Gannon |
277 |
| 6. Hawaii Pacific |
252 |
| 7. Fairmont State |
234 |
| 8. Converse |
201 |
| 9. King |
173 |
| 10. Limestone |
127 |
