The Long Beach State women’s volleyball team was picked to win the 2011 Big West Conference regular season championship in a poll of the conference’s coaches released Thursday.
The 49ers received seven of nine total first-place votes and finished with 78 points.
Led by two-time AVCA Honorable Mention outside hitter Caitlin Ledoux and first-team All-Big West selection Haleigh Hampton, the ‘Niners return five starters from last season’s team that reached the NCAA Tournament for a 24th consecutive season.
LBSU also brings back Honorable Mention All-Big West pick Janisa Johnson and All-Freshman Team member Delainey Aigner-Swesey.
The 49ers received finished just ahead of the Cal Poly Mustangs, who received the remaining two first-place votes and finished with 72 total points.
UC Santa Barbara was picked third with 53 points, just in front of 2010 Big West champion Cal State Fullerton with 52 points. Pacific was also just a single point behind that group with 51 points.
Rounding out the list was UC Davis (38), UC Irvine (30), Cal State Northridge (20) and UC Riverside (11), respectively.
LBSU will be hosting an open practice on Friday at 4 p.m. the Goldmine.
The team’s first contest will be against the LBSU Alumni on Saturday, August 20, with the official season opener coming on Friday, August 26 at 11 a.m. against Prairie View A&M.
2011 Big West Women’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Long Beach State (7): 78
2. Cal Poly (2): 72
3. UC Santa Barbara: 53
4. Cal State Fullerton: 52
5. Pacific: 51
6. UC Davis: 38
7. UC Irvine: 30
8. CS Northridge: 20
9. UC Riverside: 11
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