LA MIRADA, Calif. --- The Biola University volleyball squad resumed its place among the NAIA's premier teams, once again holding down the No. 4 spot in the 2008 NAIA Preseason Poll released on Tuesday.

The Eagles, who reached the NAIA National Semifinals in 2007 and finished the season ranked No. 4, return all seven starters for the 2008 campaign and are among the early-season favorites to challenge for the GSAC crown.

The conference championship will not come easily, though, as six of the top eight teams hail from the Golden State Athletic Conference including the top five.

Fresno Pacific, the defending NAIA Champion, once again held down the top spot in the preseason poll followed by national runner-up California Baptist at No. 2. Concordia University stayed at No. 3 with Biola's arch-rival Azusa Pacific coming in at No. 5.

Another pair of GSAC teams earned rankings in the preseason poll as Point Loma Nazarene was ranked No. 8 overall and Vanguard University was ranked at No. 21.

Biola opens the season this weekend at the Azusa Pacific Cougar Classic on Friday, Aug. 22 and Saturday, Aug. 23.

CLICK HERE to view the complete 2008 NAIA Preseason Poll.