Women's Volleyball Pac-12 Conference

Eight Pac-12 volleyball teams begin NCAA Tournament action

SAN FRANCISCO - Eight Pac-12 volleyball teams are headed to the NCAA Tournament which begins Thursday and Friday, Nov. 29 and 30. Pac-12 Champion STANFORD was awarded the No. 1-overall seed with three other league squads receiving a top-16 seeding, giving them the right to host the first and second rounds. The eight berths marks the fifth time in six years the Conference has sent at least eight teams to the tournament. It also marks the 19th-consecutive year at least six league teams have participated in the "Big Dance." First-round winners move on to play in the second  round on Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1.

In addition to the Cardinal garnering the top seed, No. 11 USC, No. 15 OREGON and No. 16 WASHINGTON STATE also open postseason play at home. ARIZONA, COLORADO, UTAH and WASHINGTON hit the road for their first- and second-round matches. Seven of the eight teams are making a return trip to the tournament after earning bids last season, while the Wildcats are back after snapping a four-year run. Stanford is one of two teams in the nation to have participated in the event all 38 years, including 2018, and is tied for the most NCAA Tournament titles with seven after winning in 2016. Four Cardinals who played in the 2016 national championship match are juniors on this seasons squad.

Pac-12 Networks will air first/second-round sites from Eugene, Ore., and the second-round match at Stanford. The Ducks first-round match vs. New Mexico State starts at 7 p.m. PT on Thursday, Nov. 29. If both Oregon and Stanford win their first-round matchups, the second-round matches will be televised on Pac-12 Networks on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

Opening-round action will be played this weekend, Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 29-Dec. 1 at 16 campus sites. Teams winning both rounds move on to regional play Dec. 7-8 at four non-predetermined campus sites, which will be announced after play concludes on Dec. 1. The national semifinals and championship final matches take place in Minneapolis, Minn., on Dec. 13 and 15 at the Target Center.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE (All times local to site)

Thursday, Nov. 29
New Mexico State at #15 Oregon, 7 p.m. PT on Pac-12 Oregon

Friday, November 30
Washington vs. St. Marys (Calif.) 4 , 3:30 p.m. CT
Arizona vs. Missouri 1 , 4:30 p.m. CT
Colorado vs. South Carolina 2 , 4:30 p.m. CT
Utah vs. Denver 3 , 4:30 p.m. MT
Alabama State at #1 Stanford, 7 p.m. PT
Northern Arizona at #16 WASHINGTON STATE, 7 p.m. PT
Samford at #17 USC, 8 p.m. PT
Second round at OREGON, TBD on Pac-12 Oregon

Saturday, December 1
Arizona vs. second round, TBD
Colorado vs. second round, TBD
Second round at Stanford, TBD on Pac-12 Bay Area
Second round at USC, TBD
Utah vs. second round, TBD
Washington vs. second round, TBD
Second round at Washington State, TBD

1 at Lincoln, Neb.; 2 at Minneapolis, Minn.; 3 at Provo, Utah; 4 at Omaha, Neb.

PAC-12 IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT The Pac-12 has captured 15 out of 37 NCAA titles, including 13 of the last 27. With Stanford winning its seventh crown in 2016, it put the Cardinal in a tie for the most in the nation by a program. Four different Pac-12 teams have claimed the NCAA title and has had at least six tournament berths for 19-consecutive years. Pac-12 teams have compiled an impressive 457-244 (.652) record in NCAA play. Toss out the 23 postseason matches between Conference teams and the leagues NCAA Tournament record against non-conference foes stands at 254-104 (.709) since 2001 and an overall mark of 390-182 (.682). Over the last 17 years, Pac-12 teams are 111-27 (.804) in the first round, including posting a NCAA-record 10-0 in 2015 after a NCAA-record 10 league teams earned bids that season. With eight bids in 2018, the Pac-12 has had at least that many teams go to the postseason in five of the last six years.

PAC-12 HONORS In a vote of the leagues 12 coaches, STANFORDs Kathryn Plummer was voted the Pac-12 Player of the Year for the second year in a row making her the sixth player in league history to win the honor in back-to-back seasons. In 2017, she was tabbed the AVCA National Player of the Year honor after winning the Pac-12s top honor, becoming the first player in the AVCAs history to win the National Player of the Year award a year after winning the AVCAs National Freshman of the Year recognition in 2016. Plummers teammates and classmates Jenna Gray and Morgan Hentz also repeated as the Pac-12 Setter of the Year and Pac-12 Libero of the Year, respectively. USCs Raquel Lzaro was tabbed the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and the Cardinals Kevin Hambly was voted the Pac-12 Coach of the Year.

In addition to the major awards, the Conference office announced the 18-member All-Pac-12 team. Along with Plummer, USCs Khalia Lanier and OREGONs Lindsey Vander Weide earned a spot on the all-Conference team for the third-straight year. Six All-Pac-12 honorees are on the team for the second time, while nine are making a first-time appearance, including four seniors.

AVCA POLL In the final regular-season AVCA Coaches Poll, six Pac-12 teams are ranked with Pac-12 Champion STANFORD reclaiming the No. 1 spot. The Cardinal has been in the top two every week but one, including spending the first two weeks of the season at No. 1. OREGON moved up three spots to No. 14, USC is No. 17, WASHINGTON STATE is tied for No. 19, WASHINGTON is No. 22 and ARIZONA is No. 23. COLORADO and UTAH are receiving votes.

At least seven teams were ranked in 13 weeks of the polling this season, including the preseason. Eleven different teams have earned a top-25 ranking or have received votes with a season-high nine appearing in the ranking on Sept. 24.

NCAA RPI Stanford boasts the top RPI in the country with USC (No. 9), WSU (No. 14), Oregon (No. 19) and Washington (No. 25) appearing in the top 25. The Pac-12 also boasts nine teams with a RPI of 50 and better, and all but one are in the top 85.

STANFORD CLAIMS 18TH PAC-12 CROWN Stanford dominated league play, claiming its second-straight and 18th all-time Pac-12 crown with two weeks left in the regular season. Under the direction of second-year head coach Kevin Hambly , the Cardinal became the first Pac-12/10 team since 2003 to go undefeated in league play and ninth all-time. Stanford has also posted undefeated league seasons in 1991, 1995 and 1997. UCLA (1988, 1989, 1990) and USC (2003) are the only other programs to accomplish the feat. Stanford also became the second team in Conference history to post 20 league victories. USC did it first, going 20-2 in 2011, the year the Pac-12 expanded to include Colorado and Utah.

IN THE NATIONAL STATS The Pac-12 has been killing it this season, literally. The Conference leads the nation with 13.49 kills per set, including two teams in the top 10 for kills per set. Stanford ranks second with 14.95 kps while Oregon lands at fifth in the category with 14.79. Additionally, USC and Arizona rank in the top 30, with USC averaging 13.96 kps for 28th-best followed by Arizona at 29 with 13.95 kps. Individually Arizonas Kendra Dahlke leads the league and ranks fourth nationally with 4.85 kps. Three other Pac-12 student-athletes rank in the top 25, including Stanfords Kathryn Plummer at seventh (4.78 kps), USCs Brooke Botkin at 17th with 4.45 and fellow Trojan Khalia Lanier ranking 24th with 4.3.

The Conference also leads the nation in assists per set at 12.64. Stanford and Oregon rank in the top-five nationally, as the Cardinal is listed at third (14.09 aps) and the Ducks are fourth (13.91 aps). The Pac-12s dominant setters have led the way with Pac-12 Setter of the Year Stanfords Jenna Gray ranking second in the nation with 12.43 aps. Oregons August Raskie is fourth (12.0 aps) and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Raquel Lzaro lands at 20th (11.2). Lzaro is one of just two freshmen in the country in the top 20 in the statistical category, boasting the second-best average among the nations freshman class.

While Stanfords Tami Alade leads the nation and the Conference with 1.83 blocks per set, the future also looks bright for the Pac-12s young defensive stars. Half of the Conferences blocks-per-set leaders are freshmen. Stanfords Holly Campbell leads the freshmen and ranks third in the league with 1.27 bps while Californias Lauren Forte follows at fourth with 1.23. Utahs Phoebe Grace is fifth with 1.21 bps with teammate Kennedi Evans and CUs Danielle Price tying for ninth-best at 1.14.

UPSETS MOUNT There have been 36 total upsets this season (based on the weekly AVCA poll) by Pac-12 teams this season so far, 26 coming in league matches. Every single Pac-12 team has recorded at least one win over a higher-ranked team this year. Utah, Washington and Washington State are all tied for the most upsets this season with five each. All five of the Utes upsets were in league matches, while both the Huskies and Cougs had two upsets in non-conference play and three in Conference matchups.

ARIZONA IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT Arizona (22-10, 11-9) is back in the NCAA Tournament after missing out last season, breaking a streak of four-consecutive appearances. The Wildcats finished fifth in the Pac-12 after being picked ninth in the preseason. UA makes its 29th all-time tournament appearance when it travels to face Missouri (23-7) at No. 7-seeded Nebraska (24-6), where the Huskers also host Hofstra (25-7) on Friday. The Wildcats are 30-28 all-time, ranking the NCAA semifinal in 2001.

COLORADO IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT The Buffs travel to face Minneapolis to face South Carolina (19-9) in the first round on Friday. Colorado is in the tournament for the second-straight year and the 20th time all-time. The other first-round match is between No. 2-seeded and Big Ten Champion Minnesota (25-3) and Northeast Champion Bryant (22-12). Colorado owns a 13-19 record all-time in the tournament, making its fourth appearance since joining the Pac-12 in 2011 and second in head coach Jesse Mahoneys third season.

OREGON IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT No. 15-seeded Oregon ends the season matching its best-ever showing in Pac-12 play, tying for second. The Ducks last finished second in 2012, the same year they appeared in their only national championship match. Oregon posts its ninth 20-win campaign in 12 years, going 20-10 this season also going 13-7 in league matches. Making their 16th all-time appearance (16-15) and eighth-straight, the Ducks host WAC Champion New Mexico State (24-7) in the first round, also welcoming Hawaii (18-8) and Baylor (19-8) on Thursday, Nov. 29, with a potential rematch against the Wahine on Friday, Nov. 30 in the second round. UO defeated UH in back-to-back meetings earlier this season on Sept. 13 and 14 in Honolulu.

STANFORD IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT Stanford earns the No. 1-overall seed in the NCAA Tournament after going a perfect 20-0 in league play and posting just one loss all season. The Cardinal are the first undefeated Pac-12 Champion since 2003 and the ninth all-time. Stanford is one of just two teams to have earned a berth to all 38 NCAA Tournaments along with Penn State. After winning the national championship in 2016, the Cardinal are tied with the Nittany Lions for the most NCAA titles all-time at seven. The Cardinal boast the most wins in the history of the tournament, going 119-31 (.793) all-time and is also the only program with 100 wins in the event. Stanford hosts SWAC Champion Alabama State (23-17) in the first round, also hosting Loyola Marymount (20-9) and Duke (16-11). First-round matches take place on Friday, Nov. 30, with the winners moving on to the second round on Saturday, Dec. 1.

USC IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT Ending the season tied for second in the Pac-12 for the second-straight year, boasting a 13-7 league record and 21-10 overall, USC is the No. 11 seed and hosts SoCon Champion Samford (19-14) in the first round. The Trojans are making their 36th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance, winning the title in 2002 and 2003. The 2003 squad was the last undefeated Pac-12 Champion, also going a perfect 35-0 that year. USC also hosts San Diego (16-12) and Big West Champion Cal Poly (25-2) on Friday.

UTAH IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT The Utes do not have to travel far for their NCAA Tournament appearance, going to Provo, Utah, to play Summit League Champion Denver (27-2) in the first round. It will be rematch of a Aug. 25 clash which was decided in five sets, the Utes coming away with the win. Utah is making its 15th tournament appearance, boasting an all-time record of 14-14. It is the third-straight year it is in the tournament and fifth time in six years. Host and fourth-seeded West Coast Champion BYU (27-1) hosts America East Champion Stony Brook (21-8) in the first round, as well. If the Utes and Cougars advanced, it would be the second time the teams face each other this season, BYU claiming a 3-0 on Sept. 13.

WASHINGTON IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT Washington heads to Big East Champion Creighton (28-4) for its first-round match against Saint Marys (Calif.) on Friday, with a potential second-round match on Saturday against the host Blue Jays or South Dakota (21-9). The Huskies are making their 23rd appearance and 17th straight. UW advanced to the national semifinal in 2013 and last year reached the regional semifinal. Washington is 48-21 (.696) all-time in the tournament, advancing to the national semifinal four times and winning the crown in 2005.

WASHINGTON STATE IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT No. 16 seed WASHINGTON STATE is making its third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, a feat it last achieved from 2000-2002. The Cougs seeding is also its highest since garnering the No. 12 seed in 2002. WSU finished the 2018 campaign in fourth with a 12-8 league record, the teams best showing since 2002. Its 21-9 overall record is only the second 20-win campaign since 2003, also going over the 20-win mark for the second time in three years. Making its 13th all-time appearance, WSU hosts Big Sky Champion Northern Arizona (26-8) in the first round on Friday, while also welcoming Tennessee (25-5) and Mountain West Champion Colorado State (23-7). WSU is 11-12 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.

NOTABLES Arizonas Dave Rubio joined an elite company after claiming his 500th victory while at Tucson on Sept. 14. In his 27th season at the Wildcat helm, he is only the second head coach in Pac-12 history to reach the milestone. Rubio has led UA to double the win total from last season (11) and also more than doubled its Pac-12 win total (5). It posted three upset-wins so far this season in league play ARIZONA STATE broke a lengthy losing streak, picking up its first Pac-12 win since 2016 and the first under head coach Sanja Tomasevic on Sept. 23 over then-No. 12 Oregon. The win over the Ducks was the first over a ranked team since 2016 and was also the first sweep of UO since 2005. They posted three wins over ranked opponents this season, including ASUs first over UW since Nov. 21, 2012 and the first sweep of the Huskies since Sept. 22, 2000. The Sun Devils have surpassed their overall win total from all of last season California defeated four ranked opponents this season marking the first time the Bears have beaten four ranked teams since 2011 . The Bears have more Pac-12 wins and total wins from last year (6 Pac-12, 14 overall) Colorado posted its fourth double-digit Pac-12 win season in five years. It is looking to post back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 1997-98 Oregon records its second 20-win season in three years, surpassing its Pac-12 win total from a season ago. Its second-place finish in the Pac-12 ties for the programs best-ever showing, last time coming in 2012 Oregon State recorded its second-straight 10-win non-conference season going 10-2, including a win over then-No. 23 San Diego Stanford is looking for its second-straight 30-win campaign, which would be the programs first back-to-back since going three years with 30 victories from 2006-2008. The Cardinal have had 18-straight seasons with 20 wins All but one of UCLAs losses this season were to teams who have earned bids to the 2018 NCAA Tournament With two more wins, Utah gets to 20 on the season which would mark its third-straight and fifth in six years. It has also posted double-digit league wins the last three seasons Washington needs two wins to get to 20 on the season. The Huskies have reached the 20-win threshold every year since 2002. That streak includes three-straight 30-win campaigns from 2013-15 Washington State is posted its second 20-win season in three years and just its second since 2002. Its 12 Pac-12 wins ties a program record set in 1997.

Pac-12 teams opened the season in dominant fashion, going 25-5 (.833) in the first weekend of play. League teams have posted a 385-91 (.809) record in the opening week of play dating back to 2002.

PRESEASON COACHES POLL The 12 leagues womens volleyball coaches voted 2017 Pac-12 Champion STANFORD the preseason favorite to win the regular season in 2018. The Cardinal received all 11 possible votes for 121 points to come out first in the polling for the fifth time in six years. USC received the only other first-place vote and collected 100 points for second place, while OREGON is third with 96 points.

WHOS BACK Seven AVCA All-Americans returned from last year, including 2017 AVCA National Player of the Year and Pac-12 Player of the Year Kathryn Plummer . Four of the seven were first team honorees and all are 2018 juniors, including USCs Khalia Lanier , and Cardinal teammates Morgan Hentz and Jenna Gray. Plummer became the first player to win the national player of the year honor a year after garnering the AVCA National Freshman of the Year award. Nine of the 14 players named to the 2017 All-Pac-12 team return for 2018, including Hentz, the Pac-12 Libero of the Year last year, and Gray, the 2017 Pac-12 Setter of the Year.

NEW COACHES The Pac-12 welcomed new coaches to the sidelines, including California mentor Jennifer Dorr and USCs Brent Crouch . Dorr has been with the Golden Bears program since 2009 when she joined the squad as the director of operations before moving to the role of assistant coach in 2011. Crouch was named the 2016 West Coast Conference Coach of the Year while with Portland.

STANDINGS (as of 11/27/18)

Teams Pac-12 Record Overall Record
Stanford 20-0 28-1
USC 13-7 21-10
Oregon 13-7 20-10
Washington State 12-8 21-9
Arizona 11-9 22-10
Washington 10-10 18-12
Utah 10-10 18-13
Colorado 10-10 18-13
UCLA 8-12 13-14
California 7-13 15-16
Arizona State 5-15 14-18
Oregon State 1-19 11-21

PAC-12 VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

THIS WEEK:
Offensive: Dani Drews, UTAH
Defensive: Alexis Dirige, WSU
Freshman: Brooke Nuneviller, ORE

ALSO NOMINATED:
Offensive: Justine Spann, COLO; Willow Johnson, ORE; Audriana Fitzmorris, STAN; McKenna Woodford, WSU.
Defensive: Rachel Whipple, COLO; Ronika Stone, ORE; Grace Massey, OSU; Morgan Hentz, STAN; Brianna Doehrmann, UTAH.
Freshman: Jenna Ewert, COLO.

2018 PAC-12 VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Offensive

Defensive

Freshman

Aug. 2 7 Brooke Botkin, USC Grace Massey, OSU Raquel Lzaro, USC
Sep. 3 Mac May, UCLA Claire Martin, WSU Raquel Lzaro, USC
Sep. 10 Kathryn Plummer, STAN Morgan Hentz, STAN Brooke Nuneviller, ORE
Sep. 17 Kathryn Plummer, STAN Morgan Hentz, STAN Maddie Sheehan, OSU
Sep. 24 Ronika Stone, ORE Lindsey Vander Weide, ORE Raquel Lzaro, USC
Oct. 1 Kendra Dahlke, ARIZ Morgan Hentz, STAN Holly Campbell, STAN
Oct. 8 Taylor Borup, ORE Morgan Hentz, STAN Brooke Nuneviller, ORE
Oct. 15 Kathryn Plummer, STAN Morgan Hentz, STAN Raquel Lzaro, USC
Oct. 22 Jocelyn Urias, WSU Devyn Cross, ARIZ Lauren Forte, CAL
Oct. 29 Penny Tusa, WSU Tami Alade, STAN Brooke Nuneviller, ORE
Nov. 5 Claire Hoffman, WASH Tami Alade, STAN Jenna Ewert, COLO
Nov. 12 Samantha Drechsel, WASH Avie Niece, WASH Holly Campbell, STAN
Nov. 19 Alyse Ford, ASU Naghede Abu, COLO Jenna Ewert, COLO
Nov. 26 Dani Drews, UTAH Alexis Dirige, WSU Brooke Nuneviller, ORE

NATIONAL HONORS

AVCA National Player of the Week:
Sep. 11 - Kathryn Plummer , Stanford
Oct. 9 - Taylor Borup , Oregon

ESPNW Player of the Year Watch:
Kathryn Plummer keeps elevating
Khalia Lanier hitting and knitting her way to Stanford showdown
After rocky introduction, Ronika Stone is crushing it at Oregon
Stanford setter Jenna Gray is no joke

Senior CLASS Award Nominees:
Alexa Smith , COLO
Tami Alade , STAN

Senior CLASS Award Finalists:
Tami Alade , STAN

IN THE PRESEASON

Pac-12 Preseason Coaches Poll & All-Pac-12 Team | AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll

2018-19 IN A NUTSHELL

Stanford returns as the defending Pac-12 Champion, also advancing to the NCAA semifinal. The Cardinal were also picked to win the 2018 league crown, followed by USC in second and Oregon in third. For a complete listing of the poll, click on the link below.
Seven AVCA All-Americans return from last year, including 2017 AVCA National Player of the Year and Pac-12 Player of the Year Kathryn Plummer . Four of the seven are first team honorees and all are juniors, including USCs Lanier, and Cardinal teammates Morgan Hentz and Jenna Gray . Plummer became the first player to win the national player of the year honor a year after garnering the AVCA National Freshman of the Year award.
Nine of the 14 players named to the 2017 All-Pac-12 team return for 2018, including Stanfords Morgan Hentz, the Pac-12 Libero of the Year last year, and Jenna Gray, the 2017 Pac-12 Setter of the Year.
The Pac-12 welcomes new coaches to the sidelines, including California mentor Jennifer Dorr and USCs Brent Crouch . Dorr has been with the Golden Bears program since 2009 when she joined the squad as the director of operations before moving to the role of assistant coach in 2011. Crouch was named the 2016 West Coast Conference Coach of the Year while with Portland.
Pac-12 volleyball continues to attract marquee student-athletes. Five Pac-12 teams landed at least one Volleyball Magazine FAB 50 recruit with Oregon and UCLA pacing the league with four each. Thirteen named to the list will be donning a Pac-12 uniform this season.

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING

The Pac-12 has captured seven of the last 15 NCAA crowns (2016- Stanford, 2011 - UCLA, 2005 - Washington, 2004 - Stanford, 2003 - USC, 2002 - USC, 2001 - Stanford) and 15 NCAA titles overall.
The current group of Pac-12 volleyball coaches finished the 2015 season with over 5,000 Division I victories to its credit, having compiled 5,040 wins in a combined 230 years of head coaching experience. That averages out to nearly 22 wins a season for each coach per season.
In addition, these coaches have guided NCAA Division I teams to 38 NCAA semifinal appearances and eight NCAA titles. In the last 14 years, seven different coaches have been named the ASICS/Volleyball Magazine Coach of the Year and/or the AVCA Coach of the Year - Arizonas David Rubio (2001 ASICS), Californias Rich Feller (2007 ASICS, 2010 ASICS and AVCA), Stanfords John Dunning (2001 AVCA), UCLAs Mike Sealy (2011 AVCA), USCs Mick Haley (2003 AVCA, 2015 AVCA), Washingtons Jim McLaughlin (2004 ASICS and AVCA), and UCLAs Andy Banachowski (2006 ASICS and AVCA).
The Pac-12 has had 10 or more All-Americans selections in seven of the last 10 years. This year, eight were named to the AVCA All-America squad, USCs Samantha Bricio and Washingtons Lianna Sybeldon were named to the first team, Stanford had a pair of second-team selections in Hayley Hodson and Merete Lutz, with USCs Alicia Ogoms joining them. On the third team, Stanfords Madi Bugg and Brittany Howard, and UCLAs Taylor Formico earned spots. Ten former Pac-12 players have earned All-America honors four times, while 18 players in all have earned All-American honors three times.
Since 1990, Pac-12 players garnered AVCA Player of the Year honors 14 times, including the five of the last six - CALs Carli Lloyd (2010), USCs Alex Jupiter (2011), OREs Alaina Bergsma (2012), WASHs Krista Vansant (2013) and the latest honoree in USCs Samantha Bricio. The NCAA Honda Sports Award honor has been bestowed upon a Pac-12 volleyball player 13 times, including Vansant in 2013.