Courtesy: Stanford Athletics
STANFORD, Calif. – By a unanimous vote, the Stanford women's volleyball team was picked to defend its conference title in a vote among Pac-12 coaches, the conference announced today. The Cardinal, which has won seven of the last nine conference championships, is coming off one of the best seasons in program history in terms of wins (33) and advanced to a nation-best 19th Final Four.
Stanford received 11 of the first-place votes, totaling 121 points. Arizona State finished second in the voting with 99 points, followed by Washington (97), which picked up the remaining first-place vote. Rounding out the top half of the poll were Oregon (94), USC (84) and Colorado (61).
Arizona totaled 60 points to take seventh, followed by UCLA with 57 points in eighth. Oregon State (35), Utah (34), California (28) and Washington State (22) complete the poll.
Stanford, which has captured 16 Pac-12 championships since 1986, has been selected by the coaches to win the title for the 14th time in poll history. The coaches have correctly chosen the champion 18 times out of the past 29 polls. The Cardinal has finished first or second in the conference 27 out of 29 seasons.
Stanford returns 10 letterwinners to the squad, which reached at least a regional final for the 10th time under head coach John Dunning. Seniors Madi Bugg, the two-time Pac-12 Setter of the Year, and outside hitter Jordan Burgess were both AVCA First Team All-Americans in 2014, while redshirt sophomore middle blocker Merete Lutz earned second team honors. The Cardinal will have to contend without senior middle blocker Inky Ajanaku, the 2014 Volleyball Magazine National Player of the Year, who suffered an injury while competing with the national team over the summer.
Bugg, Burgess and Lutz all earned spots on the Preseason All-Pac-12 squad. Stanford led all teams with three selections. Oregon and Washington each had two players selected.
The regular season begins on Friday, Aug. 28. Stanford will open its season at Maples Pavilion as it hosts Texas A&M at 6 p.m. PT on the Pac-12 Networks. It marks the first time since 2006 that the Cardinal will open its season at home.
Following are the complete results of the preseason coaches' poll and the preseason All-Pac-12 squad. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams or players (first-place votes in parentheses):
2015 Pac-12 Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Stanford (11), 121 points
2. Arizona State, 99
3. Washington (1), 97
4. Oregon, 94
5. USC, 84
6. Colorado, 61
7. Arizona, 60
8. UCLA, 57
9. Oregon State, 35
10. Utah, 34
11. California, 28
12. Washington State, 22
2015 Preseason All-Pac-12 Team
Adora Anae, Utah
Alexis Austin, Colorado
Amanda Benson, Oregon
Martenne Bettendorf, Oregon
Samantha Bricio, USC
Madi Bugg, Stanford
Jordan Burgess, Stanford
Macey Gardner, Arizona State
Merete Lutz, Stanford
Mary-Kate Marshall, Oregon State
Lillian Schonewise, California
Penina Snuka, Arizona
Cassie Strickland, Washington
Lianna Sybeldon, Washington
