DENVER, COLO. - Defending Western Athletic Conference volleyball champion and 2000 Final Four participant Hawai`i has been selected in a poll by the leagues coaches to defend its crown in 2001 and take home its sixth-straight regular-season title.
Hawai`i earned nine first-place votes and tallied 81 points to top the poll. San Jose State finished in second place with 69 points and one first place vote, while Nevada received 65 points to finish in third place. In fourth place was first-year WAC member Boise State along with UTEP with 46 points, followed by Fresno State (45), Rice (38), SMU (32), Tulsa (19) and Louisiana Tech (9).
Hawai`i is coming off a 31-2 season in 2000 that saw the Rainbow Wahine earn their fifth-consecutive WAC regular-season title with a 16-0 record. They advanced to the NCAA Final Four before losing to eventual national champion Nebraska, 3-1 in Richmond, Va. Head coach Dave Shoji welcomes back eight letterwinners including four starters off last years team. Hawai`i will be led by junior leftside hitter, Lily Kahumoku, a first team All-American and the WAC Player of the Year last season. Also returning for the Wahine are Co-Freshmen of the Year Maja Gustin and Kim Willoughy and second team All-WAC selection Jennifer Carey, a junior setter.
San Jose State posted a 22-10 overall record last season, 13-3 in the WAC, good for second place and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans return nine letterwinners, including five starters this season. SJSU will have to replace the WAC and schools all-time kill leader Joslynn Gallop. Leading the way for the Spartans will be senior Brianna Blair, a second team All-WAC selection in 2000, along with sophomore Liz Hudson and Kimberly Noble, both members of the All-WAC Freshmen team.
Nevada finished in third place in the WAC last season with a 10-6 mark and a 13-14 overall record. Nine letterwinners return for the Wolf Pack, including five starters. Leading the Nevada arsenal will be senior outside hitter Suzanne Stonebarger, a first team All-WAC honoree in 2000. Boise State, which competed in the Big West last season, finished the year with a 9-19 overall record. The Broncos return six letterwinners, along with three starters. UTEP, who is coming off its first winning season in three years, returns six letterwinners, including three starters.
This season, the WAC returns four first-team all-WAC performers from a year ago, including Hawai`is Lily Kahumoku and Maja Gustin, Nevadas Suzanne Stonebarger and UTEPs Sarah Davis. Six of the seven second team All-WAC performers return this season, including Hawai`is Jennifer Carey and Kim Willoughby, San Jose States Brianna Blair and Christina Lukens, Nevadas Michelle More and UTEPs Jacqui Nosan.
2001 WAC Volleyball Coaches' Preseason PollTeam Points 1. Hawai`i (9) 81 2. San Jose State (1) 69 3. Nevada 65 4. Boise State 46 UTEP 46 6. Fresno State 45 7. Rice 38 8. SMU 32 9. Tulsa 1910. Louisiana Tech 9
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