Coaches Tab Titans Ninth in 2004 Volleyball
Poll Aug. 9, 2004 – Fullerton, Calif.
The 2004 Cal State Fullerton women's volleyball team was picked to finish
ninth out of 10 teams in the Big West Conference according to a vote of
the league's head coaches released by the conference office.
UC Santa Barbara, which has won the last two Big West Championships, was
a near unanimous favorite to three-peat in the 2004 season as voted by
the head coaches in the preseason poll.
The Gauchos received nine first place votes and one
second place vote for 99 points. UCSB returns five players who started
at least half of the team's matches from last year's squad that captured
its second outright Big West regular season title. The Gauchos welcome
back All-Big West First Team selections Megan Blackshire and Kristin Nelson
as well as Freshman of the Year Olivia Waldowski.
Long Beach State tied with UC Irvine for second in the preseason poll
with 84 points, including one first place vote. The 49ers will be led
by All-Big West First Team selection Erika Chidester and honorable mention
selection Jillian Mazzarella. Long Beach State has not finished below
third in the standings each of the last four years.
The Anteaters, who are coming off a 24-10 season, are led by Kelly Wing,
an AVCA third-team All-American in 2003. UC Irvine looks to improve on
its 12-6 league record, which landed them second in the conference, their
highest finish ever. UCI returns five starters, including All-Big West
First Team selection Sami Cash.
Pacific and Idaho finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Cal State Northridge
and Utah State came in sixth and seventh with 50 and 44 points, respectively.
Cal Poly, Cal State Fullerton and UC Riverside rounded out the poll.
Following are the voting results of the coaches, who were allowed to vote
for their own teams:
1. UC Santa Barbara (9) - 99
t2. Long Beach State (1) - 84
t2. UC Irvine - 84
4. Pacific - 62
5. Idaho - 58
6. Cal State Northridge - 50
7. Utah State - 44
8. Cal Poly - 29
9. Cal State Fullerton - 21
10. UC Riverside - 1
