The Long Beach State women's volleyball team was selected to win its second straight, 10th overall, Big West Championships after receiving four first-place votes and 75 total points, according to the conference coaches in the annual Big West women's volleyball preseason coaches poll conducted today.
The 49ers, looking to secure a 23rd consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2009, enter the season as defending Big West champions after capturing their ninth title a season ago with a 13-3 conference mark. Last year’s title was Long Beach State’s first title since tying with UC Santa Barbara in 2005. Long Beach State returns three starters and seven letterwinners from a 2008 roster that registered an overall record of 26-6 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
While Long Beach State received a majority of the first-place votes, UC Irvine and Cal Poly also earned a few nods for the top spot in the poll. The second-place Anteaters collected three first-place votes and a total of 73 points, while Cal Poly placed third with two first-place votes and a point total of 62.
UC Irvine welcomes back four starters and 10 letterwinners that guided the Anteaters to a second place finish in the Big West in 2008 with a 12-4 mark. The veterans are joined by an incoming class ranked 24th in the nation by PrepVolleyball.com.
Cal Poly, who finished third a season ago with an 11-5 conference record, returns just two starters and seven letterwinners from its 2008 roster. Leading the charge is the junior duo of middle blocker Dominique Olowolafe and defense specialist/outside hitter Alison Mort.
Pacific was selected fourth with 54 points, followed by UC Santa Barbara (48) and Cal State Fullerton (36). The Matadors of Cal State Northridge picked up the seventh slot with 26 points and UC Davis ranked eighth with a point total of 16. Rounding out the nine-field team is UC Riverside (15), who after 39 years is embarking on its first season with a new head coach at the hem of the program - former USA Men's National Team assistant coach Ron Larsen.
2009 Big West Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Long Beach State (4) - 75
2. UC Irvine (3) - 73
3. Cal Poly (2) - 62
4. Pacific - 54
5. UC Santa Barbara - 48
6. Cal State Fullerton - 36
7. Cal State Northridge - 26
8. UC Davis - 16
9. UC Riverside -15
( ) Denotes first place votes