SAN MATEO, Calif. -- The West Coast Conference released their 2023 Beach Volleyball Preseason Poll on Tuesday morning, with the No. 7 Loyola Marymount Lions selected to repeat as WCC Champions. The Pilots were picked to finish sixth.

The Pilots are returning seven athletes this year, while also adding seven freshmen and one transfer student. All-WCC Second Team Honorees, Noelani Helm and Grace Zilbert will be returning for the Pilots this season, as well.

No. 7 LMU (32-9, 4-0 WCC), was voted as the top spot in the WCC Preseason rankings, collecting 36 total votes, as well as six first place votes. Last season, LMU made it to the NCAA Tournament before ultimately being eliminated in the fifth round by Florida State University.

No. 17 Pepperdine (22-12, 0-0 WCC), was the only other team to receive a first place vote. Pepperdine totaled 31 votes, including one first-place vote. Pepperdine was the runner-up team at the WCC Tournament last year making it to the fifth round before being defeated by LMU.

The Pilots will open their 2023 season on with two matches on Wednesday March 1, 2023 against Stanford University at 12 p.m. and St. Mary's at 2 p.m.

2023 WCC Beach Volleyball Preseason Poll (Points, First Place Votes)
1. LMU - (36) 6 first-place votes
2. Pepperdine - (31) 1 first-place vote
T-3. Saint Mary's (23)
T-3. Santa Clara (23)
5. San Francisco (15)
6. Portland (10)
7. Pacific (9)

2023 WCC Beach Volleyball Preseason Team
Kate Claremont, Pepperdine
Madi Firnett, LMU
Hawley Harrer, Saint Mary's
Melanie Paul, LMU
Valma Prihti, LMU
Jacinda Ramirez. LMU
Isabelle Reffel, LMU
Julia Sangiacomo, Santa Clara
McKenna Thomas, Pepperdine
Abbey Thorup, LMU
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