The Big West coaches didn’t have to look any farther than last season’s volleyball standings when sending in their predictions for the 2018 preseason poll.
On Tuesday, the top three and bottom two mirrored the 2017 finish, with defending champion Cal Poly picked to repeat, Hawaii as the runner-up and UC Irvine third. Behind the jumble of pick-’em Nos. 4-7 were perennial strugglers UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton.
It was the first time since 1995 that the Rainbow Wahine were not picked to win the league. That year, Hawaii ran the table in the Big West (18-0), were ranked No. 1, and finished 31-1 after being upset by Michigan State in five in the NCAA tournament regional final at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Tuesday’s first-place votes and points were as close as last year’s contests between Cal Poly and Hawaii, both won by the Mustangs in five sets. Cal Poly received five first-place votes and 77 points, while the Rainbow Wahine had the remaining four votes and 75 points.
UCI, with 62 points, had a large gap on No. 4 Long Beach State (48) and No. 5 UC Santa Barbara (45). UC Davis (38) came in at No. 6, followed by No. 7 Cal State Northridge (30), No. 8 UC Riverside (18) and No. 9 Cal State Fullerton (12).
Hawaii opens the first of its two-a-day practices this morning. The Wahine start the season on Aug. 24 against Gonzaga in the Hawaiian Airlines Classic, a field that includes UCLA and Kansas State.
BIG WEST PRESEASON COACHES POLL
(First-place votes in parenthesis)
RANK TEAM PTS
1. Cal Poly (5) 77
2. Hawaii (4) 75
3. UC Irvine 62
4. Long Beach State 48
5. UC Santa Barbara 45
6. UC Davis 38
7. Cal State Northridge 30
8. UC Riverside 18
9. Cal State Fullerton 12
