Montana picked sixth in pre-season coaches poll
8/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
The University of Montana volleyball team was picked for a sixth-place finish in the 2008 Big Sky Conference pre-season poll the league office announced Monday. Voting was done by the Big Sky's nine head coaches.
Montana, which returns five starters, placed seventh last year, finishing the season with a 6-10 league mark, 10-16 overall.
Portland State, which shared the 2007 regular-season title with Sacramento State at 13-3, is the 2008 favorite, the first time the Vikings have been given the preseason nod.
PSU collected five of the poll's nine first-place votes to earn 61 points.
Sacramento State, which won its 11th straight regular- or post-season Big Sky title in 2007, was picked for second, with three first-place votes and 53 total points.
Weber State edged out Eastern Washington for third, picking up 50 points. EWU earned the other first-place vote and collected 49 points. The Eagles finished third in 2007 with a 12-4 Big Sky mark. The Wildcats, in their most successful season in 19 years, went 11-5 in league play.
Northern Colorado, with 34 points, and Montana, with 30, rounded out the top six. The Bears placed fifth last year with an 8-8 Big Sky mark.
The top six teams in the regular-season standings advance to the 2008 Big Sky Conference Tournament, which will be hosted by Portland State Nov. 28-29. The Vikings, the No. 1 seed, fell in the title match of the 2007 tournament to host Sacramento State, the No. 2 seed.
Filling out the bottom third of the poll were Northern Arizona (24 points), Idaho State (12) and Montana State (11).
The Lumberjacks were sixth last year at 7-9 in league play, earning the final tournament spot.
ISU and MSU went a combined 2-30 in Big Sky matches in 2007.
Sacramento State, Eastern Washington, Northern Arizona, Idaho State and Montana State all have first-year coaches.
2008 Big Sky Conference Pre-Season Volleyball Poll
1. Portland State ... 61 points (5 first-place votes)
2. Sacramento State ... 53 (3)
3. Weber State ... 50
4. Eastern Washington ... 49 (1)
5. Northern Colorado ... 34
6. Montana ... 30
7. Northern Arizona ... 24
8. Idaho State ... 12
9. Montana State ... 11
Montana, which returns five starters, placed seventh last year, finishing the season with a 6-10 league mark, 10-16 overall.
Portland State, which shared the 2007 regular-season title with Sacramento State at 13-3, is the 2008 favorite, the first time the Vikings have been given the preseason nod.
PSU collected five of the poll's nine first-place votes to earn 61 points.
Sacramento State, which won its 11th straight regular- or post-season Big Sky title in 2007, was picked for second, with three first-place votes and 53 total points.
Weber State edged out Eastern Washington for third, picking up 50 points. EWU earned the other first-place vote and collected 49 points. The Eagles finished third in 2007 with a 12-4 Big Sky mark. The Wildcats, in their most successful season in 19 years, went 11-5 in league play.
Northern Colorado, with 34 points, and Montana, with 30, rounded out the top six. The Bears placed fifth last year with an 8-8 Big Sky mark.
The top six teams in the regular-season standings advance to the 2008 Big Sky Conference Tournament, which will be hosted by Portland State Nov. 28-29. The Vikings, the No. 1 seed, fell in the title match of the 2007 tournament to host Sacramento State, the No. 2 seed.
Filling out the bottom third of the poll were Northern Arizona (24 points), Idaho State (12) and Montana State (11).
The Lumberjacks were sixth last year at 7-9 in league play, earning the final tournament spot.
ISU and MSU went a combined 2-30 in Big Sky matches in 2007.
Sacramento State, Eastern Washington, Northern Arizona, Idaho State and Montana State all have first-year coaches.
2008 Big Sky Conference Pre-Season Volleyball Poll
1. Portland State ... 61 points (5 first-place votes)
2. Sacramento State ... 53 (3)
3. Weber State ... 50
4. Eastern Washington ... 49 (1)
5. Northern Colorado ... 34
6. Montana ... 30
7. Northern Arizona ... 24
8. Idaho State ... 12
9. Montana State ... 11
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