Long Beach State Picked Second in Pre-Season Coaches Poll
UCSB is Favored to Win the Conference
August 10, 2005 IRVINE, CA -- The Long Beach State women's volleyball team was picked to finish in second place behind UC Santa Barbara according to the annual Big West Conference women's volleyball pre-season coaches poll released Wednesday.
The 49ers received two first-place votes for a total of 58 points on the ballot. Long Beach State will begin the 2005 season ranked No. 24 in the nation, and returns key players such as sophomore Alexis Crimes, the 2004 Big West Freshman of the Year, and AVCA Third-Team AVCA All-American. Heather Laudato, who set a school-record 537 digs last season, will anchor the back row, while junior Robin Miramontes, who recorded 348 kills in 2004, will provide a solid offensive threat at the opposite position.
The 49ers finished the 2004 season with a 24-7 overall record, and a second place Big West finish at 13-5.
The Gauchos, who have won the last three Big West championships, enter the 2005 season ranked No. 15 in the nation.
Pacific was a unanimous third-place selection with 48 points, followed by Cal Poly in fourth place (30), and UC Irvine in fifth place (25). UC Riverside finished sixth (24) in the poll, as Cal State Northridge (22) and Cal State Fullerton (19) claimed the seventh and eighth poll positions respectively.
Long Beach State opens its season on Friday, Aug. 26 vs. Long Island at The Walter Pyramid at 7:30 p.m. Conference play begins Friday, Sept. 30 at UC Santa Barbara.
2005 Big West Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. UC Santa Barbara (6) 62
2. Long Beach State (2) 58
3. Pacific 48
4. Cal Poly 30
5. UC Irvine 25
6. UC Riverside 24
7. Cal State Northridge 22
8. Cal State Fullerton 19 |
