Issue link: http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/564485
10 2015 PAC-12 VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE // PREVIEW PRESEASON NOTEBOOK Pac-12 volleyball continues to recruit marquee student-athletes. Seven Pac-12 institutions landed at least one Volleyball Magazine FAB 50 recruit. Here's a list of those freshmen who should make significant contributions to Pac-12 volleyball: VOLLEYBALL MAGAZINE Alyse Wallace-Ford, OH, USC Sumeet Gill, MB, Oregon Hayley Hodson, OH, Stanford Baylee Johnson, S/OH, USC Destiny Julye, OH, Washington Haley McLaren, OH, Oregon Zana Muno, S/OH, UCLA Lauren Page, OH/MB, Oregon Kylie Pickrell, S/OPP, Arizona State August Raskie, S, Oregon Rachel Reed, MB, USC Savannah Rennie, MB/OPP, California That's a total of 12 FAB 50 recruits, which breaks down to 24 percent of the list. Here's the list by conference: Big Ten ..................................... 20 Pac-12 ................................. 12 Big 12......................................... 7 SEC ............................................ 3 ACC ............................................ 3 Big West ..................................... 3 Mountain West ............................ 1 Big East ...................................... 1 Lianna Sybeldon, Washington more Adora Anae, a preseason All-Pac-12 selection by the coaches, and classmate Eliza Katoa were the next to in that lead pack. The Utes have also been very strong in the last several years blocking at the net and look to strengthen that part of their game with three freshman measuring 6-2 and taller. WASHINGTON The Huskies have built themselves up to be a peren- nial power in collegiate volleyball, putting together 13-straight seasons of 20+ wins, including back- to-back 30-win seasons. UW has 12 letterwinners, including five starters, returning from a squad that advanced to the NCAA regional semifinal. But no one has tougher shoes to fill than the head coach - Keegan Cook. And while he is a rookie coach, he brings experience and familiarity to the squad, serv- ing as the team's top assistant the last two years. Consequently the two most successful years in the Husky history. It is tough to lose a former national player of the year and an All-American, as well. But he does have one All-American in Lianna Sybeldon to help him lead the squad and vie for a Pac-12 and NCAA title. He also welcomes back his setters, Katy Beals and Bailey Tanner, who were both the main contributors in the two-setter offense the Huskies have been known to run. While things may not be exactly the same for UW in 2015, expect it to still be a strong contender. WASHINGTON STATE Though the Cougars have five starters returning, Washington State is a very young squad with just one senior and seven freshman and one transfer. Senior Kate Sommer will be busy again keeping the ball up as the team's top libero. Also returning is junior Kyra Holt who has taken on a key role for the Cougs since she arrived as a freshman, leading the team in scoring the last two years. Former Coug Chelsey Bettinson helped Holt carry the load, but with her graduation, someone will have to step up and help in that department. It will not be an easy task, considering WSU already needed improvement Adora Anae, Utah Macey Gardner, Arizona State AVCA PRESEASON RANKING 1. Penn State (54) 1538 2. STANFORD (6) 1468 3. Texas (1) 1384 4. Florida 1338 T5. Nebraska 1275 T5. Wisconsin (1) 1275 7. North Carolina 1158 8. Illinois 1055 9. Florida State 986 10. WASHINGTON 953 11. BYU 919 12. Colorado State 754 13. OREGON 722 14. Ohio State 700 15. Kentucky 603 16. ARIZONA STATE 529 17. ARIZONA 498 18. Hawai'i 401 19. Michigan State 340 20. UCLA 316 21. Iowa State 273 22. USC 255 23. UTAH 211 24. COLORADO 188 25. Duke 168 Also Receiving Votes: Long Beach State 147, Purdue 131, Oklahoma 103, OREGON STATE 89, Texas A&M 84; Minnesota 78; Kansas 48; Little Rock 33; Alabama 24; Western Kentucky 20; Creighton 15; Michigan 12; San Diego 10; Wichita State 9; LSU 8; Miami (FL) 7; American 4 with its hitting percentage after ranking last in the Pac- 12 in that category in 2014. Where the Cougs can take advantage with their height. Four of the eight newcomers are 6-3 or taller, and 10 Cougs in all are over 6-0, which should allow WSU to keep opponents at bay. Between the top returnees and the No. 21 recruiting class coming in 2015, head coach Jen Greeny has the components to get the team back on the upswing.