Defending Western Athletic Conference volleyball champion Hawai`i has been selected in a poll by the leagues coaches to defend its crown in 2001 and take home its seventh-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 68 points and one first place vote, while Fresno State received 60 points to edge Rice by one for third place. In fifth place was Nevada with 51 points, followed by SMU (41), UTEP (33), Tulsa (30), Louisiana Tech (14) and Boise State (13).
Hawai`i is coming off a 29-6 season in 2001 that saw the Rainbow Wahine earn their sixth-consecutive WAC regular-season title with a 13-0 record. Hawaii also captured its second WAC Tournament title. The Rainbow Wahine advanced to the NCAA Regional Semifinals before losing to UCLA, 3-1 in Long Beach, Calif. Head coach Dave Shoji welcomes back two All-Americans and former WAC Player of the Year honorees, junior Lily Kahumoku and junior Kim Willoughby.
San Jose State ended the 2001 season with a 25-8 overall record, 9-4 in the Western Division, good for a second place tie with Nevada. The Spartans advanced to their 12th NCAA Tournament. San Jose State won its first round match with Santa Clara, 3-2, before falling to eventual champions Stanford, 3-0. The Spartans return seven letterwinners, including four starters this season. SJSU will have to replace all-WAC selections Brianna Blair and Savannah Smith. But first team all-WAC middle blocker Liz Hudson returns to lead the Spartans.
Fresno State finished fourth in the WACs Western Division last season with a 7-6 mark and a 14-10 overall record. Twelve letterwinners return for the Bulldogs, including five starters. Leading the Fresno State arsenal will be sophomore middle blocker Christy Burnett, a second-team all-WAC selection in 2001.
This season, the WAC returns seven first-team all-WAC performers from a year ago, including Hawai`is Kim Willoughby, Maja Gustin, Heder Illustre and Margaret Vakasausau. Also returning are San Jose States Liz Hudson, Nevadas Michelle More and Rices Rebeca Pazo, who was also WAC Freshman of the Year.
Standings
1. Hawai`i (9) 81
2. San Jose State (1) 68
3. Fresno State 60
4. Rice 59
5. Nevada 51
6. SMU 41
7. UTEP 33
8. Tulsa 30
9. Louisiana Tech 14
10.Boise State 13