NM State Tops 2022 WAC Volleyball Preseason Poll
DENVER – A division champion from last regular season, NM State earned top billing in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in the 2022 WAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll that was released on Thursday.
The Aggies, the 2021 champion of the WAC West Division, received six first-place votes and 135 voting points to rank as the 2022 conference favorite based on polling of all 13 volleyball member head coaches. Last season’s conference tournament champion Utah Valley received five first-place votes and placed second in the predicted order of finish with 129 points. Grand Canyon (127 points) and Sam Houston (99 points) each received one of the remaining two first-place votes in the preseason poll.
NM State junior outside hitter Katie Birtcil was selected as the 2022 WAC Preseason Player of the Year. Birtcil hit .277 over 29 matches and led the Aggies with 410 kills and 457.0 points last season. Birtcil was named to the all-conference first team in 2021.
Sam Houston sophomore Hannah Baker claimed 2022 WAC Preseason Libero of the Year honors. Baker landed on the all-conference second team last season after turning in 520 digs and 5.10 digs per set across 26 matches. Baker also led the Bearkats with 33 service aces and 0.32 aces per frame.
Grand Canyon senior Klaire Mitchell was named the 2022 WAC Preseason Setter of the Year. Mitchell has been the conference setter of the year in each of the past two seasons and led the Lopes with 752 assists and 10.44 assists per set over 21 matches played in 2021. Mitchell was also the 2020 WAC Freshman of the Year.
Grand Canyon saw four players named to the 2022 Preseason All-WAC Team to pace the conference. NM State and Utah Valley each had two selections apiece, and California Baptist, Sam Houston and UTRGV were also represented on the preseason all-conference team.
2022 WAC VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON HONORS
2022 WAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
|
Rank
|
Team (1st-Place Votes)
|
Points
|
|
1.
|
NM State (6)
|
135
|
|
2.
|
Utah Valley (5)
|
129
|
|
3.
|
Grand Canyon (1)
|
127
|
|
4.
|
Sam Houston (1)
|
99
|
|
5.
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
95
|
|
6.
|
California Baptist
|
90
|
|
7.
|
UTRGV
|
86
|
|
8.
|
UT Arlington
|
54
|
|
9.
|
Tarleton
|
50
|
|
|
Utah Tech
|
50
|
|
11.
|
Abilene Christian
|
37
|
|
12.
|
Southern Utah
|
32
|
|
13.
|
Seattle U
|
17
|
2022 WAC Preseason Player of the Year: Katie Birtcil, NM State
2022 WAC Preseason Libero of the Year: Hannah Baker, Sam Houston
2022 WAC Preseason Setter of the Year: Klaire Mitchell, Grand Canyon
2022 Preseason All-WAC Team
Hannah Baker, So., L, Sam Houston
Katie Birtcil, Jr., OH, NM State
Melanie Brecka, Grad, RS, Grand Canyon
Sarah Cruz, Sr., OH, UTRGV
Tori Dorius, Sr., OH, Utah Valley
Christine Graf, Sr., OH, California Baptist
Annabelle Kubinski, Grad, MB, Grand Canyon
Klaire Mitchell, Sr., S, Grand Canyon
Lia Mosher, Grad, MB, NM State
Kazna Tanuvasa, Grad, OH, Utah Valley
McKenzie Wise, So., OH, Grand Canyon
- WAC -