Tigers Picked Seventh In WCC Preseason Poll
Entering its first season in the West Coast Conference (WCC) the Pacific women's volleyball team will have its work cut out for it as the Tigers were picked seventh in the preseason coaches poll as released by the conference office on Wednesday, Aug. 14. The newcomers and the unknown to the conference, Pacific garnered 33 points in the poll to finish behind the six NCAA tournament teams from a season ago. BYU, the reigning WCC champions were picked to finish first with 74 points and enter the 2013 season ranked No. 13 in the AVCA Preseason Poll.
The Tigers come into the year with high expectations after finishing the 2012 season at 20-11 overall to mark the first 20+ win season for Pacific since the 2001 season. Last season, the Tigers defeated Santa Clara, who was picked to finish just above Pacific in the poll, 3-2 in its lone matchup against the WCC. Pacific is 4-0 against WCC teams in the last three seasons having beaten Santa Clara twice as well as defeating St. Mary's and Loyola Marymount in limited action against WCC foes.
Pacific returns the bulk of its lineup from 2012 headlined by all-conference honorees Gillian Howard (Jr. - MB) and Kat Schulz (So. - Opp.) as well as seniors Jennifer Sanders (MB) and 2012 kills leader Megan Birch (OH). The Tigers bring back five of six starters from their 2012 season as they look to replace just their setter from last season. Helping ease the transition to the new league will be the additions of three standout freshmen as Pacific added high school all-americans Lexi Elman and Jessica Diederich as well as Alicja Wilk from Trzebownisko, Poland.
The 2013 season begins for the Tigers on Aug. 30 in Blacksburg, Va. when Pacific takes on St. Francis (PA) to kick off the Virginia Tech Invitational. Pacific will play four matches on the East Coast to start the year and will spend the first eight matches on the road before coming home to the Alex G. Spanos Center to host the Bankers Classic. The Tigers will take on UC Riverside, Winthrop, and San Jose State at their annual tournament before starting WCC play against Gonzaga on Sept. 19.