Aug. 3, 2011

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - In a little over three weeks, the 2011 West Coast Conference volleyball season will be underway. In preparation for a schedule with nine schools, including newest member BYU, all WCC head coaches were asked to predict the outcome of the season, and select the 2011 WCC Preseason All-Conference team. According to the poll, LMU is predicted to finish fifth in head coach Tom Black's second year at the helm of the program. Senior Jasmine Rankins was the lone Lion to earn a spot on the Preseason All-Conference team.

Pepperdine received seven first place votes and a total of 62 points to earn the top spot in the preseason poll. The Waves finished third last year, but will be returning the most Preseason All-Conference selections of all nine teams. Saint Mary's and San Diego split the remaining first place votes, with the Gaels expected to finish second again this year, in front of reigning WCC champion San Diego.

Last year's fifth place finisher Santa Clara came ahead of LMU and newcomer BYU, securing the fourth place spot. The Lions secured fourth place in the WCC last season, while BYU also finished fourth last season in its final year with the Mountain West Conference. Portland and San Francisco shared the seventh place spot in the preseason poll, while Gonzaga landed in ninth.

Five of the nine schools are represented on the Preseason All-Conference team. Seven of the 10 student-athletes on the list, including Rankins, were also named All-WCC First Team members last year.

2011 WCC PRESEASON POLL
1. Pepperdine - 62 (7)
2. Saint Mary's - 55 (1)
3. San Diego - 52 (1)
4. Santa Clara - 43
5. LMU - 35
6. BYU - 31
T7. Portland - 19
T7. San Francisco - 19
9. Gonzaga - 8
(First place votes)

2011 WCC PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Christie Carpenter, BYU
Lauren Corp, Saint Mary's
Chloe Ferrari, San Diego
Lilla Frederick, Pepperdine
Kim Hill, Pepperdine
Gabby Jolly, Saint Mary's
Jasmine Rankins, LMU
Stevi Robinson, Pepperdine
Dana Knudsen, Santa Clara
Tanya Schmidt, Santa Clara