Griz, Vikings atop preseason coaches' poll
8/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Montana volleyball coach Jerry Wagner is confident of his team???s chances to contend for its first Big Sky Conference regular-season title since 1994, and his fellow league coaches agree. The Grizzlies, along with defending regular-season champion Portland State, were picked atop the 2010 Big Sky Conference preseason coaches??? poll the league office released Wednesday.
Both teams collected 56 points in the voting. Montana had three first-place votes to the Vikings??? two.
The four teams that made last year???s Big Sky Conference tournament ??? UM, PSU, Northern Colorado and Eastern Washington ??? all picked up first-place votes in the poll.
The Bears, who won last year???s league tournament as the No. 3 seed, got one first-place vote and finished with 51 points. The Eagles, who hosted last year???s tournament, received three first-place votes and finished with 50 points.
The bottom five teams all totaled fewer than 30 points. Idaho State and Sacramento State tied for fifth with 29 points, Northern Arizona ranked seventh with 26 points, Weber State was eighth with 19 points and Montana State placed ninth with eight points, taking home last-place votes from league???s other eight coaches.
Montana???s path to a regular-season championship will likely have to go through Portland State. The Vikings have finished in the top two in the conference the last five seasons, and PSU is the one team Montana has not been able to beat in Wagner???s first four years with the Grizzlies.
Portland State lost three starters from last year???s 21-win team, including Big Sky MVP setter Nique Fradella and second-team All-Big Sky middle blocker Erica Jepsen. The Vikings return outside hitter Whitney Phillips, a unanimous first-team All-Big Sky pick last year as a junior.
Montana finished fourth in the Big Sky last year and hasn???t finished higher than a tie for third since the last regular-season title in 1994, but the Grizzlies return a stacked lineup in 2010, headlined by two-time first-team All-Big Sky middle blocker Jaimie Thibeault and 2009 Big Sky Libero of the Year Brittney Brown.
Montana???s key gap to fill will be at setter, where incoming freshman Kortney James of Sandpoint, Idaho, will attempt to replace Taryn Wright, who started the last three seasons and earned second-team All-Big Sky honors last fall.
Northern Colorado and Eastern Washington both lost three starters plus their liberos from 2009.
Montana will have an opportunity to make an early statement when the Grizzlies host Eastern Washington and Portland State Friday and Saturday, Sept. 17-18, on the opening weekend of league matches.
The Big Sky tournament will be held Friday and Saturday, Nov. 26-27, at Portland State. (Under current Big Sky policies, hosting rights are awarded to the regular-season champion from the previous season.)
2010 Big Sky Conference Preseason Poll
t1.?? Montana (3 first-place votes)?? ...?? 56 points
t1.?? Portland State (2)?? ...?? 56
3.?? Northern Colorado (1)?? ...?? 51
4.?? Eastern Washington (3)?? ...?? 50
t5.?? Idaho State?? ...?? 29
t5.?? Sacramento State?? ...?? 29
7.?? Northern Arizona?? ...?? 26
8.?? Weber State?? ...?? 19
9.?? Montana State?? ...?? 8
