Long Beach Is Favored to Win Volleyball Title

The Cal State Long Beach women’s volleyball team, which will be led by three-time All-American Tara Cross, was picked to win the Big West Conference championship in a poll of conference coaches.

The 49ers went 26-7 last year, marking their best season since 1975, and Cross was named the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. player of the year.

The 49ers received nine of 10 first-place votes, with Pacific getting the other.

Hawaii, which won the Big West Conference title last season, was picked second.

UC Irvine was chosen to finish ninth. Cal State Fullerton, which will be guided by first-year Coach Jim Huffman, was chosen to finish last after going 0-18 in conference matches last season.

Big West Conference Volleyball Coaches Poll

(First-place votes in parenthesis)

1. Cal State Long Beach 99 (9)

2. Hawaii 87

3. Pacific 84 (1)

4. San Diego State 66

5. UC Santa Barbara 56

6. San Jose State 50

7. Fresno State 34

8. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 29

9. UC Irvine 27

10. Cal State Fullerton 18