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BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech women’s soccer team was voted at No. 5 in the country in the Preseason NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I women’s soccer rankings released Wednesday.

Last year’s squad finished the season ranked fourth after reaching the NCAA College Cup and posting a 19-5-3 record, recording its best season in program history.

This season, head coach Chugger Adair returns eight starters and remains loaded with depth at nearly every position with only five letterwinners gone from last season’s team.

Tech is led by Junior Ashley Meier, who was recently named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Preseason Top XI Third Team, and freshman Murielle Tiernan, who returns after breaking the freshman record for goals in a season and tying the team-high with 11.

This ranking marks the highest preseason tab the program has ever received by the NSCAA. Last season, the Hokies began the year sitting in the No. 22 spot but quickly made their way up the rankings and eventually earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Tech is one of eight ACC teams to begin the season ranked in the top-25 alongside Florida State (2), Virginia (3), North Caroline (4), Notre Dame (16), Duke (18), Boston College (19) and Wake forest (21).

The Hokies schedule features seven ranked teams including No. 20 Georgetown, No. 16 Notre Dame, No. 18 Duke, No. 4 North Carolina, No. 2 Florida State, No. 21 Wake Forest and No. 3 Virginia.

Tech will open its season at home against VCU on Aug. 22 at Thompson Field at 7 p.m.

For updates on Virginia Tech women's soccer, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_WSoccer