Griz and Vikings Nab No. 1 in Poll
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OGDEN, Utah (August 11, 2010) - Portland State and University of Montana have been selected as co-favorites in the 2010 preseason Big Sky Conference volleyball coaches’ poll.
The poll was released Wednesday by the league. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.
The Montana Grizzlies received three first-place votes, while the Portland State Vikings earned two first-place votes. Both tallied 56 points.
The top four spots were tight as defending Big Sky postseason champion Northern Colorado garnered 51 points, while Eastern Washington was fourth with 50 points. The Eagles earned three first-place votes, while Northern Colorado received one.
Last year, Portland State went 22-9 overall and 14-2 during the Big Sky regular season to win the regular-season championship. The Vikings, led by third-year head coach Michael Seeman, faced Northern Colorado last November in the championship match, falling 3-1 to the Bears.
Portland State will play host to the 2010 Big Sky championship by virtue of winning the 2009 regular-season title. The top four teams advance to the championship at the Stott Center on Nov. 27-28.
The Vikings return the 2009 Top Newcomer Whitney Phillips, middle blocker Christie Hamilton, as well as libero Nicole Bateham to the starting lineup.
Montana has finished fourth in Big Sky play each of the past two seasons, the program’s best finishes since 1994. Montana’s head coach Jerry Wagner returns for his fifth season after losing to regular-season champions Portland State in the semifinals of the 2009 Big Sky Tournament. The Grizzlies return last year’s Libero of the Year Brittney Brown in addition to two-time first team All-Conference middle blocker Jaimie Thibeault and outside hitter Stephanie Turner.
Northern Colorado coach Lindsey Benson was tabbed as the 2009 Coach of the Year after leading her squad to the 2009 conference postseason championship and a trip to the NCAA Championship. The title was Northern Colorado’s first in any sport since joining the league in 2006.
Idaho State and Sacramento State both tallied 29 points to tie for the No. 5 spot in the preseason poll, edging Northern Arizona who earned 26 points. Weber State and Montana State rounded out the poll.
The 2010 season begins Aug. 28, and the first conference matches start on Sept. 17.
2010 Big Sky Conference
Preseason Coaches’ Poll
| Team (First Place Votes) |
Points |
| 1. Montana (3) |
56 |
| 1. Portland State (2) |
56 |
| 3. Northern Colorado (1) |
51 |
| 4. Eastern Washington (3) |
50 |
| 5. Idaho State |
29 |
| 5. Sacramento State |
29 |
| 7. Northern Arizona |
26 |
| 8. Weber State |
19 |
| 9. Montana State |
8 |