LA MIRADA, Calif. --- The Biola University women's cross country team will open the 2009 season as the No. 3 team in the NAIA according to the NAIA Coaches' Preseason Poll released on Wednesday.

Despite not having a returning All-American, the Eagles do return a strong contingent from the squad which placed 12th at the NAIA Championships in 2008. They welcome back six of their starting seven and a pair of Top-100 finishers while adding a talent group of freshmen.

Biola received 560 overall votes in the poll including four first-place votes. Simon Fraser University (B.C.) was ranked first overall with 573 votes with Cedarville University (Ohio) in second with 563.

The Eagles have reached the NAIA Championships the last two years after failing to reach the finals since 2003.

"It's very exciting for us," said Head Coach Jonathan Zimmerman. "On one hand, it's a reward for all of the good work our team has done over the past two seasons. However, on the other hand, it also means we will be running all year with a target on our backs. It's a nice plug for our program and a sign of respect, but we still have to go out and earn it."

Biola's team is still a young one, with five juniors, four sophomores and four freshman. Juniors Sarah Brooks, Danielle Calhoun, Kelsey Gasner, Erika Perez and Katie Thede lead the squad. All five have been significant contributors over the last two seasons and look to help guide the team to its first Top-10 finish in the program's history. Thede and Bowman each placed among the Top-100 at the NAIA Championships last year at 51st and 61st, respectively.

"In the past we were viewed as underdogs and this is first time in three years we aren't," said Gasner. "It's been crazy trying to adjust to the different mindset knowing that we have a target on our backs. People want to race against us now instead of not even knowing we are there."

"It's so exciting and humbling, too," said Brooks. "We entered the program as underdogs and now have our name up so high in the rankings. Now we have to live up to it. The goal of our program has been to get to the top and to remain Christ-Centered and we have been able to do both."

Sophomores Carissa Bowman, Nychele Fischetti, Clarissa Kenney and Katherine Sikkelee each saw time on the course as freshmen last season. Fishetti worked her way into the starting seven, placing 82nd overall at the NAIA Championships.

Rounding out the group are freshmen Kelsi Boucher (Buena Vista, Colo.), Brooke Brumund (Bend, Ore.), Holly Kopp (Anchorage, Alaska) and Rachel Stump (Los Gatos, Calif.).

"Kudos to our returning juniors and sophomores," said Zimmerman. "They came into the program while it was still young and stuck with it. I let them know my expectations were high both in running and in the classroom. They have done a great job of excelling in both.

"We need to focus on doing the little things right, like staying healthy," said Zimmerman. "If we can do that, we can do well and represent the University well."

Biola opens the season on Saturday, Sept. 12, racing at the UC Irvine Invitational against a number of big NCAA Division I programs along with numerous Division II and NAIA teams as well.

View the complete NAIA Preseason Top 25 by clicking here.