Whipple Named Preseason All-Pac-12

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Arizona volleyball senior outside hitter Paige Whipple has been named Preseason All-Pac-12, the conference announced on Wednesday.

Whipple becomes the first Wildcat to be selected to the preseason all-conference team since both Kalei Mau and Penina Snuka earned the honor in 2016. Whipple is one of 14 players selected by the coaches.

The outside hitter enters her senior season following a breakout year in 2019 when she finished sixth in the Pac-12, averaging 3.94 kills/set, including an impressive 4.11 kills/set during league play. Her late-season surge saw her finish the year with 15 consecutive matches with at least 13 kills.

Last season, Whipple became the 16th player in Arizona history to reach 1,000 career kills, and just the seventh to do so during her junior year. She enters the 2020-21 season with 1,017 career kills, 196 shy of 10th place in Arizona history.

Arizona's lone four-year senior, Whipple will play an imperative role this season as a leader of a very young team that includes 11 underclassmen, including each of the other five pin players on the roster.

Additionally, on Wednesday, the conference announced Arizona's week 1 opponent -- Utah -- as the favorite to win the Pac-12. UA was selected 10th by the coaches. Arizona is scheduled to play the top three teams in the preseason coaches poll -- 1. Utah, 2. Washington, 3. Stanford -- in that order to begin the season. The full poll is listed below.

2020-21 PRESEASON ALL-PAC-12

2020-21 PAC-12 PRESEASON COACHES POLL