By a close call that almost required video replay, the Hawaii women’s volleyball team was declared the preseason favorite to win the Big West Conference on Thursday.
Ahead of UH’s farewell season in the BWC, the conference’s 11 head coaches tabbed the Rainbow Wahine to finish first — but only by a two-point separation from Cal Poly, 94 to 92. The Wahine and Mustangs each received five first-place votes while UC Santa Barbara received the other.
UH went 21-10 (13-5 BWC) last season and finished runner-up to Cal Poly in the regular-season standings, but prevailed in the conference tournament to extend the program’s run of consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances to 31.
Middle blocker Bri Gunderson, a transfer from Eastern Washington, was coach Robyn Ah Mow’s lone representative on the seven-player preseason all-conference team. UH has eight newcomers to pair with eight returnees, and is replacing its all-conference setter Kate Lang and national kills leader Caylen Alexander.
UH opens the season in the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic against Marquette on Aug. 29.
|
Rank |
Team |
Points |
|
1. |
Hawaii |
94 (5) |
|
2. |
Cal Poly |
92 (5) |
|
3. |
UC Davis |
75 |
|
4. |
UC Santa Barbara |
73 (1) |
|
5. |
Long Beach State |
68 |
|
6. |
UC Irvine |
53 |
|
7. |
UC San Diego |
50 |
|
8. |
CSUN |
42 |
|
9. |
Cal State Bakersfield |
23 |
|
10. |
Cal State Fullerton |
21 |
|
11. |
UC Riverside |
14 |
First-place votes in parentheses