UCI tabbed fourth

The UC Irvine women’s volleyball program, which recorded the

second-highest number of wins in school history last season, was

picked to finish fourth, tied with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, in this

year’s preseason Big West Conference coaches’ poll.

UC Santa Barbara was voted first with six first-place and four

second-place votes while Long Beach State was selected to finish

second with one first-place vote. Pacific, earning three first-place

votes, was a third-place choice by the coaches.

Last year, UCI, which had a 19-11 overall record and finished 10-8

in Big West play, had one of its most successful seasons in recent

history, ending the season with its first winning conference record

in 19 years of Big West affiliation. Five of six starters return for

the Anteaters, led by junior outside hitter Kelly Wing, a 2002

American Volleyball Coaches Association all-West Region honorable

mention and Big West all-Conference first-team selection. Also

returning are setter Ashlie Hain and middle blocker Dana Kurzbard,

both of whom finished among the NCAA’s top 30 in setting and hitting

percentage, respectively.

The Anteaters open the season hosting the UCI Tournament, August

30-31.