UCI women’s volleyball tabbed third in Big West

The UC Irvine women’s volleyball team and UC Santa Barbara were both picked to finish third in the Big West preseason coaches poll.

Defending champion Cal Poly San Luis Obispo was tabbed as the favorite, collecting eight first-place votes, while Long Beach State was selected second in the standings.

UCI, under eighth-year coach Charlie Brande, returns all but one starter to the lineup this season and is led by All-Big West conference first-team selection Lauren Kellerman and honorable mention Kristin Kelley.

Kellerman was second in the conference with a 4.21 kill-per-game average and 480 kills last year.

UCI, which was 13-16 and tied for fourth in the Big West at 7-7 last year, opens the season Aug. 24-25 at the Montana Tournament.

— From staff reports