The University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine have been picked to win a third consecutive Big West Conference volleyball title by the league’s coaches.

UH received five of the nine first-place votes.

Long Beach State, which was picked to finish second, received one first-place vote while third-place  UC Santa Barbara got two and fourth place Cal State Northridge one.

The Rainbow Wahine were 25-5 overall and 13-3 in the Big West last season and finished 18th in the final.

Head coach Dave Shoji opens his 40th season at UH with the Chevron Rainbow Wahine Invitational Aug. 29. The Rainbow Wahine open camp Sunday.

Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Hawai’i (5)  77 

2. Long Beach State (1)   68

3. UC Santa Barbara (2)   63 

4. CSUN (1)    60

5. UC Irvine    42

6. Cal Poly     34

7. UC Davis    25

8. Cal State Fullerton  24

9. UC Riverside    12