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2017 Beach Volleyball Preseason Poll | 2017 GCU Beach Tournament Central

LMU, which opens play this week at Grand Canyon, was picked to finish tied for third in the race for the 2017 West Coast Conference Women's Beach Volleyball Championship in a poll of the league coaches. In addition, Sarah Sponcil was tabbed a preseason All-WCC pick.

Sponcil did not compete for LMU last year, utilizing a redshirt season and representing Team USA at Manly Beach, Sydney, Australia in the Four Nations U21 Tournament. Partnered with Torrey Van Winden, Sponcil went 4-0 at the tournament to capture a gold medal, using a three-set, 21-23, 21-19, 15-13 victory against Brazil's Victoria Tosta/Ana Ramos to claim the title. The duo then finished fourth at 2016 FIVB Under 21 World Championships - the highest finishers from the US. In 2015, Sponcil posted a 26-7 overall record, including going 12-3 at the #1 spot while playing with current Lion assistant coach Betsi Flint. An AVCA All-American selection as a freshman, she played for the National Championship alongside Flint, but fell in the Championship to a pair from USC.

Pepperdine was selected as the favorite to win the Championship, capturing 36 points and six first-place votes. Pepperdine, the inaugural WCC champions a year ago, placed an impressive five players on the preseason All-WCC team: senior Delaney Knudsen, junior Corrine Quiggle, and sophomores Maddy Roh, Skyler Caputo, and Heidi Dyer. The Waves are ranked No. 4 in the AVCA coaches poll and a year ago made the national tournament while serving a portion of the season ranked No. 1.

Saint Mary's, who finished reached the finals in last years WCC tournament, was picked second with 28 points and one first-place vote. Two Gaels earned preseason All-WCC honors: Sophomores Payton Rund and junior Lindsey Knudsen â€" the 2016 WCC Freshman of the Year.

LMU and Santa Clara both tied for third receiving 23 points apiece. Joining Sponcil, Santa Clara senior Nikki Hess was also named to the preseason All-WCC team.

Coming in at fifth was Pacific with 16 points, represented by preseason all-league by senior Lexi Elman. Portland and San Francisco rounded out the field and were picked to finish sixth and seventh respectively.

The second-ever West Coast Conference Beach Volleyball Championships will be held at Ocean Beach Park in Santa Monica, California. The tournament runs April 21-22.