Aug. 16, 2016 LINKS: #LIONSTRONG | Give to LMU Athletics | LMU on Facebook | LMU on Twitter | 2016 WCC Preseason Poll
After making its sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament and 19th overall, San Diego was picked as the favorite to win the 2016 West Coast Conference Volleyball Championship in the annual preseason poll of the WCC's 10 coaches. The top three teams were separated by 11 votes, with 10 points separating the Toreros from the three-time defending WCC champion and 2015 NCAA Sweet-16 participant BYU.
In addition to announcing the preseason poll, the WCC also announced the Preseason All-Conference squad, as junior Sarah Sponcil and senior Jamie Lea earned spots on the team.
Sponcil was named a 2015 AVCA All-Region and honorable mention All-American after taking home first team All-WCC honors. She led the Lions in kills with 447 at a rate of 3.58 per set while notching a team-best 36 aces (0.29 per set) and 363 digs (2.90 per set).
Lea appeared in 32 of LMU's 33 matches and collected 425 kills to finish second on the team in her first season as a Lion. The native of Efland, N.C. averaged 3.57 kills per set while taking 1,113 swings and amassing eight block solos and 45 block assists to average 0.45 blocks per set. Lea finished the season averaging 3.83 points per set and managed double-digit kills in all but seven matches.
San Diego collected 78 points and seven first place votes, while the Cougars collected 68 points with one first place vote. Fresh off its second straight NCAA Tournament berth, Santa Clara was tabbed third with 67 votes and picked up the remaining two first place votes. Loyola Marymount marched to the 2015 NCAA Sweet-16 and was picked to finish fourth with 59 points.
San Diego is one of three WCC programs appearing on the 2016 AVCA Preseason poll. BYU leads all teams ranked No. 13, followed by No. 21 Loyola Marymount. The Toreros sit at No. 26. Last season both the Cougars (11) and Lions (16) were ranked in the final poll.
Pepperdine snared 48 points to round out the top-five of the survey. Pacific was tabbed for sixth place with 43 points. Portland (35), Saint Mary's (27), Gonzaga (25) and San Francisco (14) round out the survey.
Six programs placed at least one student-athlete on the preseason All-West Coast Conference Team. Santa Clara led the way with three preseason selections, while Loyola Marymount and San Diego each collected a pair of spots.
All 10 West Coast Conference teams open the 2016 campaign Friday, August 26. For a complete interactive schedule, please visit WCCsports.com, and follow @WCCsports on Twitter for updates throughout the season.
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