Big West coaches are picking Hawaii to pick up where it left off in volleyball 17 years ago.

The Rainbow Wahine finished first, receiving all nine opposing coaches’ votes, in the Preseason Coaches Poll released today.

Long Beach State, which has won 12 Big West titles, is next and Cal State Northridge third. Cal Poly, picked seventh, received the other first-place vote.

Hawaii left the Big West after the 1995 season. It won all 18 league matches that last year to claim its fifth championship. It played in the Western Athletic Conference the last 16 seasons, winning 13 titles.

The Wahine open practice Wednesday. They were ranked fifth in the final 2011 AVCA poll, going 31-2. Hawaii opens this season Aug. 24.

2012 Big West Women¹s Volleyball

Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Hawaii (9) 99

2. Long Beach State 88

3. Cal State Northridge 72

4. UC Santa Barbara 60

Pacific 60

6. Cal State Fullerton 46

7. Cal Poly (1) 43

8. UC Davis 37

9. UC Irvine 31

10. UC Riverside 14

( ) Denotes first place votes