Volleyball Tabbed Fifth in Pac-12 Preseason Coaches Poll
SAN FRANCISCO – The Washington State volleyball team has been selected to finish fifth in the Preseason Pac-12 Coaches poll as announced by the conference office Wednesday, August 18.
The Cougars rank fifth within the conference after finishing fourth overall during the 2020-21 spring season and posting a record of 11-5 (11-4 Pac-12). Washington State also enters the fall 2021 season having earned an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) preseason national ranking of 18 overall as well. These rankings are both milestones for the Cougars as being ranked No. 18 in the nation by the AVCA to enter a year is an all-time program high, and the Pac-12 preseason ranking of fifth overall is a program best as well.
WSU saw three individuals be named to the All-Pac-12 Preseason Team which included Hannah Pukis, Magda Jehlářová, and Pia Timmer. All three are coming off great 2020-21 seasons where Pukis was named an AVCA All-American, and both Jehlářová and Timmer earned AVCA Pacific North All-Region selections as well. The Cougs are tied with both UCLA and Washington on having the most student-athletes named to the conference preseason team at three also. Another milestone for the Cougars as having three players named to the Pac-12 All-Preseason Team is yet another program high.
The 2021 Pac-12 Preseason Coaches poll with point totals and first place votes in parentheses: Washington 121 (11), UCLA 101, Oregon 100, Stanford 95 (1), Washington State 77, USC 74, Utah 66, Arizona 44, Colorado 39, California 33, Arizona State 30, Oregon State 12.
Washington State will begin the season Friday, August 27 as the Cougars travel to Columbia, S.C. for a pair of matches that first features host South Carolina. WSU will then face No. 8 Pittsburgh in a neutral site contest Saturday, August 28.
2021 Pac-12 Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Washington (11) - 121
2. UCLA - 101
3. Oregon - 100
4. Stanford (1) - 95
5. Washington State - 77
6. USC - 74
7. Utah - 66
8. Arizona - 44
9. Colorado - 39
10. California - 33
11. Arizona State - 30
12. Oregon State - 12
2021 All-Pac-12 Preseason Team
Magda Jehlářová, Washington State
Hannah Pukis, Washington State
Pia Timmer, Washington State
Brooke Botkin, USC
Samantha Drechsel, Washington
Dani Drews, Utah
Zoe Fleck, UCLA
Claire Hoffman, Washington
Kendall Kipp, Stanford
Mac May, UCLA
élan McCall, UCLA
Mima Mirkovic, California
Brooke Nuneviller, Oregon
Ella May Powell, Washington