DENVER - Fresh off their best overall record under fourth-year Head Coach James Finley in 2015, the Seattle University volleyball team has been selected third in the 2016 Western Athletic Conference preseason poll, released Wednesday. The poll, along with the 14-member Preseason All-WAC team, were voted on by the league’s eight head coaches.
The Redhawks received 34 total points, including one first-place vote, trailing preseason favorite NM State (48 points, 6 first-place votes) and CSU Bakersfield (38 points, 1 first-place vote).
UMKC was picked to finish fourth with 31 points, followed by Utah Valley in fifth with 27 points. UT Rio Grande Valley was picked sixth with 24 points, while Grand Canyon and Chicago State round out the poll with 15 and seven points, respectively.
Seattle U, which went 18-11 overall and 9-5 in WAC play in 2015, also placed one player on the Preseason All-WAC team. Senior outside hitter Matea Mamic was named to the squad one year after earning Second Team All-WAC honors. She averaged 2.86 kpg and 0.52 bpg as a junior in 2015.
Seattle U hosts a Red & White Scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 20 at 3 p.m. in the Connolly Complex before officially opening the season on Aug. 26-28 at the Ultra Ankle Challenge, hosted by Oregon State. The Redhawks open their home slate on Sept. 1 versus crosstown rival Washington. That match will be preceded by a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the renovation of the Connolly Complex. The ceremony begins at 5:30 p.m. and first serve is set for 7 p.m.
2016 Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Rank, Team (first-place votes), Points
1. NM State (6), 48
2. CSU Bakersfield (1), 38
3. Seattle U (1), 34
4. UMKC, 31
5. Utah Valley, 27
6. UT Rio Grande Valley, 24
7. Grand Canyon, 15
8. Chicago State, 7
2016 Preseason All-WAC Team
Player, Yr., Pos., School
Jordan Abalos, Jr., OH, NM State
Brianna Ainsworth, So., S, NM State
Tatyana Battle, So., OH, NM State
Kaylyn Brandt, Sr., S, UMKC
Madison Dennison, Jr., MB, Utah Valley
Carol Grasso, Sr., OH, CSU Bakersfield
Emma Hagedorn, R-Sr., MH, UMKC
Sydney Haynes, R-Jr., MB, CSU Bakersfield
Matea Mamic, Sr., OH, Seattle U
Bojana Mitrovic, Jr., RS, UT Rio Grande Valley
Madison Mosier, Sr., OH/RS, UMKC
Natalie Tardy, Jr., OH, Grand Canyon
Sasha-Lee Thomas, Jr., MH, NM State
Alisha Watson, Sr., RS, UT Rio Grande Valley
Preseason Player of the Year: Sasha-Lee Thomas, NM State