SAN BRUNO, Calif. – The West Coast Conference released their 2019 Volleyball Preseason Poll Monday afternoon, with Portland placing 6th in conference. After finishing at 20-13 (6-12 WCC) in 2018, Portland seeks to build off of their record breaking season and make some noise across the country.
Portland has nine letterwinners returning to the Bluff, including 2018 All-WCC Honorable Mention winner senior Katie Barker. Barker, along with WCC digs leader junior Carey Williams and WCC Week 1 Player of the Week senior Shayla Hoeft, all return to continue the resurgence of the Pilots volleyball program.
For the third straight year, BYU was a unanimous selection to win the conference title, earning 81 points and a maximum nine first place votes. After marching to its ninth straight NCAA Tournament last season, San Diego, who advanced to the 2018 NCAA Sweet 16, collected 71 points and the remaining first place vote for second place in the poll.
Pepperdine advanced to the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament and was tabbed third with 66 points, followed by PCH rival LMU with 58. The Lions also marched to the second round of the 2018 postseason. Saint Mary's rounded out the top half of the predicted leaderboard with 42 votes. All five programs appearing in the top half of the preseason poll advanced to the 2018 NCAA Tournament.
Pacific and Portland snared 33 points to share sixth place followed closely by Gonzaga (32). The Pilots are fresh off the first-ever postseason appearance in program history, advancing to the quarterfinals of the NIVC Postseason Tournament. Santa Clara (18) and San Francisco (16) rounded out the survey.
No fewer than four programs placed at least three student-athletes on the preseason All-WCC squad, led by four apiece from BYU and Pepperdine. LMU and San Diego each earned three preseason selections, while Gonzaga and Pacific each collected a spot.
Five returning All-Americans made the preseason team led BYU senior libero Mary Lake (2nd), the 2018 WCC Defensive Player of the Year, who earned a spot on the USA Volleyball roster and BYU sophomore middle blocker Heather Gneiting (3rd), the 2018 AVCA National Freshman of the Year and a member of the USA Volleyball Junior National Team. Junior middle blocker Kennedy Eschenberg and senior outside hitter McKenna Miller both earned honorable mention selection last season for the Cougars as did LMU junior setter Tess Reid.
All 10 West Coast Conference teams open the 2019 campaign Friday, August 30. Follow @WCCsports on Twitter for updates throughout the season.
2019 WCC Preseason Volleyball Coaches Poll
Team (First Place Vote) Pts.
1. BYU (9) 81
2. San Diego (1) 71
3. Pepperdine 66
4. LMU 58
5. Saint Mary's 42
T-6. Pacific 33
T-6. Portland 33
8. Gonzaga 32
9. Santa Clara 18
10. San Francisco 16
2019 All-WCC Preseason Volleyball Team
Name Institution Yr. Pos.
Rachel Ahrens, Pepperdine, So.,OH/OPP
Hannah Frohling, Pepperdine, Sr., OH
Heather Gneiting, BYU, So., MB
Megan Jacobsen, San Diego, Sr., MB
Mary Lake, BYU, Sr., LIB
Katie Lukes, San Diego, So., OH
McKenna Miller, BYU, Sr., OH
Kennedy Eschenberg, BYU, Jr., MB
Sarah Penner, Gonzaga, Jr., OH
Riley Ramsey, Pacific, So., OH
Tess Reid, LMU, Sr., S
Megan Rice, LMU, Jr., OH
Shannon Scully, Pepperdine, Jr., OH
Savannah Slattery, LMU, Sr., OH
Roxie Wiblin, San Diego, Jr., OH
Tarah Wylie, Pepperdine, Sr., MB
