Big West Women's Volleyball Preseason Poll
After capturing back-to-back Big West Conference women’s volleyball titles, Cal Poly has been selected to claim a third consecutive championship after claiming five first-place votes en route to a 77 point total, as voted on by the nine head coaches.
The University of Hawai’i secured the remaining four first-place votes to lock down the second spot with 76 points. UC Santa Barbara collected 59 points to nab the third slot and UC Irvine placed fourth with a 52 point total. Long Beach State registered 46 points to sit fifth and was followed by UC Davis, who collected 39 points. CSUN found itself in seventh with a point total of 27 and was followed by UC Riverside (18) and Cal State Fullerton (11).
Over the past two seasons the Mustangs posted a 31-1 in conference matches and have made consecutive NCAA Tournaments. In 2018, they finished with a 25-3 overall record, just two wins shy of matching the 2017 record of 27-3. The Mustangs, who open the year ranked No. 23 in the AVCA Preseason Poll, also went undefeated at home for the second straight season, going 10-0 to make program history with 21 straight wins at Mott Athletics Center dating back to November 11, 2016.
Caroline Walters, who was an assistant coach/associate head coach at Cal Poly since 2009, was named head coach in December and inherits a veteran roster with 14 returning players. Included in the mix are reigning Big West Player of the Year and AVCA All-American opposite hitter Torrey Van Winden, All-Big West First-Teamer Madilyn Mercer and Big West Co-Freshman of the Year Avalon DeNecochea. Last year, Van Winden was second in the Big West and third in the nation in kills per set (5.07) and led the conference in hitting percentage (.365). Her 5.07 kills per set was the second-highest single-season average in program history. In addition, she also owns the third-spot in that category for her 2017 average of 4.83. Mercer led the conference in blocks last season at 1.12 blocks per set. She had a match last season that saw her total 11 block assists, just two shy of tying a program record. She was also fourth on the team in kills 10th in the Big West in hitting percentage (.289). DeNecochea guided the Cal Poly offense to the best hitting percentage in the Big West and seventh-highest in the nation at .295. The freshman setter was second in the conference in assists per set at 10.32 and was fourth on the team in both blocks and digs
Led by third-year head coach Robyn Mow-Santos, the University of Hawai’i welcomes seven returnees and nine newcomers for the new year. Last year, the ‘Bows recorded an 18-9 overall record while finishing second in the Big West for the second-straight season with a 14-2 conference mark. Hawai’i advanced to its 26th-consecutive and 37th overall NCAA Tournament. Leading the way in 2019 is All-Big West First Teamer Norene Iosia. She finished 2018 ranked second on the team in almost every statistical category for Hawai’i with 212 kills, 477 assists, 301 digs, and 57 blocks. She was third in service aces with 26. Last season, tallied 16 double-doubles as well as four triple-doubles—which ranked her top five nationally.
The Gauchos of UC Santa Barbara are coming off a solid 17-12 year which saw them finish fourth in the Big West and reach the postseason for the first time since 2013. Part of last year’s success stems from senior Lindsay Ruddins, who nabbed All-Pacific South Region Team Honorable Mention for the third time in her career. The outside hitter also landed on the All-Big West First Team for a third time, following a dominant 2018 season that saw her post career-highs in kills (587), attempts (1597), aces (41), digs (304), blocks (59) and points (662). Her 5.34 kills per set ranked second in the nation and second all-time at UCSB, trailing only herself. Ruddins takes on the task of leading a youthful Gauchos squad in 2019 that includes a Top 35 recruiting class.
The 2019 women’s volleyball season gets underway Friday, August 30.
2019 Big West Women’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Cal Poly (5) - 77
2. Hawai’i (4) - 76
3. UC Santa Barbara - 59
4. UC Irvine - 52
5. Long Beach State - 46
6. UC Davis - 39
7. CSUN - 27
8. UC Riverside - 18
9. Cal State Fullerton - 11
( ) Denotes first place votes