The Stetson sand volleyball team is ranked 13th in the nation in the inaugural DiG 2015 Collegiate Sand Volleyball poll, the magazine recently announced.

The defending Atlantic Sun Conference champions, the Hatters are the highest ranked conference team in the preseason poll.  UNF is ranked just behind Stetson at No. 14.

Among teams in the southeast, Stetson ranks fourth behind No. 2 Florida State, No. 9 Florida International, and No. 11 Georgia State.

The Hatters will play 20 dual matches in 2015, including seven matches against teams ranked in the preseason poll.  Stetson will host Florida Atlantic, Florida International, and Florida State in the opening weekend, Mar. 6-7, during the Stetson Spring Break Invitational.

Last season, the Hatters went 18-6, won their first A-Sun Championship, and participated in the AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball Championships.

Stetson welcomes back 14 letterwinners and adds five newcomers to the 2015 squad. Head Coach Kristina Hernandez is in her second season.

Check out GoHatters.com for all Hatter sports.