SAN FRANCISCO – The Washington State volleyball team has been selected to finish eighth in the preseason Pac-12 coaches poll as announced by the conference office on Monday, August 12.

Defending Pac-12 champion Stanford was picked to win the conference once again by the coaches. The Conference of Champions saw eight teams earn bids to the 2018 NCAA Tournament, where the Pac-12 went 6-2 in first round matchups. The Cougars earned an at large bid and the number 16 overall seed to host the first and second rounds of the tournament, and along with advancing to the Sweet Sixteen as well. Last season WSU finished the year 23-10 overall and fourth in the Pac-12.

The 2019 Pac-12 Preseason Coaches poll with point totals and first place votes in parentheses: Stanford (11) 121, USC 104, Oregon (1)  99, Washington 98, Utah 68, Arizona 65, UCLA 63, Washington State 45, California 45, Colorado 44, Arizona State 23, Oregon State 17.

The Cougars will see four key returners in seniors Jocelyn Urias, Alexis Dirige, and Ashley Brown, along with junior Penny Tusa, all who helped see WSU advance to the Sweet Sixteen a season ago. Redshirt sophomore Charity Bradley, along with redshirt freshmen Kalyah Williams, Hannah Pukis, Aria McComber, and Gabbie Heller all return from last year also. Washington State Volleyball will welcome seven new student-athletes to the squad in 2019 as well. 

Washington State will begin the season Friday, August 30, traveling to Harrisonburg, Virginia to take on James Madison in the opening match of the JMU Invitational. The home will schedule begins two weeks later at the Cougar Challenge Tournament when WSU hosts Idaho State, UT-Arlington, and Liberty.