Cougars Picked to Finish Sixth in WCC

SAN BRUNO, Calif. --- In a little over three weeks, the 2011 West Coast Conference volleyball season will be underway. In preparation for a schedule with nine schools in the mix, all WCC head coaches were asked to predict the outcome of the season and select the 2011 WCC preseason all-conference team.
 
Pepperdine received seven first place votes and a total of 62 points to earn the top spot in the preseason poll. The Waves finished third last year but will be returning the most preseason all-conference selections of all nine teams. Saint Mary’s and San Diego split the remaining first place votes with the Gaels expected to finish second again this year, in front ofreigning WCC champion San Diego.
 
Last year’s fifth place finisher Santa Clara came ahead of Loyola Marymount and newcomer BYU, securing the fourth place spot. Loyola Marymount secured fourth place in the WCC last season, while BYU also finished fourth last season in its final year with the Mountain West Conference. Portland and San Francisco shared the seventh place spot in the preseason poll, while Gonzaga landed in ninth.
 
Five of the nine schools are represented on the preseason all-conference team. Seven of the 10 student-athletes on the list were also named All-WCC First Team members last spring.
 
2011 WCC PRESEASON POLL
1. Pepperdine – 62 (7)
2. Saint Mary's – 55 (1)
3. San Diego – 52 (1)
4. Santa Clara – 43
5. Loyola Marymount – 35
6. BYU – 31
T7. Portland – 19
T7. San Francisco – 19
9. Gonzaga – 8
(First place votes)
 
2011 WCC PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Christie Carpenter, BYU
Lauren Corp, Saint Mary's
Chloe Ferrari, San Diego
Lilla Frederick, Pepperdine
Kim Hill, Pepperdine
Gabby Jolly, Saint Mary's
Jasmine Rankins, Loyola Marymount
Stevi Robinson, Pepperdine
Dana Knudsen, Santa Clara
Tanya Schmidt, Santa Clara