Pac-12 Conference

PRESEASON NOTEBOOK The Pac-12 continues to show it is the premiere conference for women's volleyball with UCLA winning the 2011 NCAA title, the league's 14th overall. No other conference in the country has more national championships. Two Pac-12 teams advanced to the national semifinals for the second-straight year and, with seven NCAA Tournament bids earned by Pac-12 teams, it marked the 11th-consecutive year at least six league teams participated in the postseason play. In 2011, eight players were named All-Americans, with the national player of the year and national coach of the year coming out of the Pac-12 for the second-straight year. The future of Pac-12 volleyball continues to look strong, with teams hauling in their share of top recruits. 2012 is no different with 18 Volleyball Magazine FAB 50 selections appearing on eight league rosters, more than any other conference. Here's a brief look at the teams of the Pac-12 as they prepare for the 2011 campaign: After a three-year absence from the NCAA Tourna- ment from 2006-08, the Wildcats look to build on their recent successes that has seen Arizona made three-consecutive trips to the postseason event. UA head coach David Rubio, in his 21st season in Tucson, will have his work cut out for him. Though he returns SO OH Madi Kingdon, the team's leader in kills per set (3.44) and points per set (3.80) as a freshman in 2011, and three starters overall, the Wildcats will be inexperienced team with 10 new- comers on the roster. With no seniors on the team, Rubio will look to his most experienced Wildcat, JR L Candace Nicholson, who will also anchor the defense. She ranked in the top 10 in the Conference in digs (3.94 dps) last year. Arizona has significant losses, but will look to key players to make up for it. ARIZONA The Sun Devils battled through a tough season in 2011, which saw the team post its fewest number of ARIZONA STATE wins since head coach Jason Watson took over the helm. But Arizona State has an experienced team, including three players who played in the historic upsets of UCLA and USC in 2010. ASU will need to blend nine newcomers into the fold quickly, if the Sun Devils look to bounce back in 2012. Four starter return for 2012, including the primary libero JR Stephanie Preach. She led the Conference with 5.26 digs per set last year. California was third last year in the Pac-12 stand- ings behind only a NCAA semifinalist and the NCAA Champion. After reaching the NCAA national title game in 2010, the Golden Bears felt they fell short of their goals in 2011, making an early exit from the NCAA Tournament. Though Cal will have to make up for the loss of All-American Tarah Murrey, the Bears look to build a case to be a Conference and national contender. First and foremost, head coach Rich Feller, the 2010 AVCA National Coach of the Year, has six players from his 2010 NCAA Runner-up team on the 2012 roster, including Correy Johnson, who was an honorable mention AVCA All-American as a freshman in 2010, and the team's second-leading hitter from a year ago, Shannon Hawari. CALIFORNIA Colorado's inaugural season in the Pac-12 was a tough one for the Buffs. Despite entering Conference play with a winning record, Colorado won just one league match in 2011. This season, however, the Buffs have an experienced squad with 11 letterwin- ners returning. In addition, head coach Liz Kritza recruited the program's first top-20 class in nearly a decade. Kritza can look to Kerra Schroeder, one of only two seniors on the team. Schroeder led the team last year in kills (3.95 kps), points (4.42 pps) and was second in digs (2.62 dpg). Though Kritza has experience and talent to work with, she will have to turn to a setter with no or limited experience to lead the offense, not an easy undertaking in the highly-competitive Pac-12. COLORADO After missing out on the NCAA Tournament in 2010, the Ducks could not be overlooked in 2011, posting big upsets, en route to a NCAA bid. Oregon seems to be in a good position to make moves up the Conference standings in 2012, and league coaches agree, picking UO fourth in the Pac-12 Preseason Coaches Poll, the highest ever for the Ducks since 1991. Head coach Jim Moore welcomes back nearly every starter from last year, including All- American Alaina Bergsma and honorable mention All-American Lauren Plum. In addition, the Ducks have the 14th-ranked recruiting class coming to campus this season. Oregon has one of the more experienced teams in the Pac-12 this year, a major strength in a tough Pac-12. OREGON Shannon Hawari, California 10 After getting off to a strong start in 2011, going 8-2 in non-conference play, including a win over a ranked team, the Beavers struggled in Conference play. OSU has some key losses to contend with and an overall young team, but head coach Taras Liskevych has four key returnees he can rely on, including the team's kills and points leader from a year ago in SR Camille Saxton. OSU also has an OREGON STATE Carly Wopat, Stanford experienced setter in Megan McBride to lead the offense, so the Beavers look to be in pretty good shape to see major improvements in 2012. Stanford had a lot to make up for in 2010 after los- ing three All-Americans from 2010. The Cardinal finished fourth in the Conference in 2011, its lowest since 2000. In 2012, however, head coach John Dunning seems to have reloaded as he welcomes the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation. Addition- ally, nearly the entire starting lineup comes back, including a pair of All-Pac-12 performers in Rachel Williams and Carly Wopat. With that combination, the Cardinal looks to be a national contender, once again. Stanford will be tested early in the season taking on some of the nation's top programs on the road prior to league play. Those matchups should prepare the team, especially its young talent, for the rigors of Pac-12 play. STANFORD The defending NCAA Champion Bruins look to make anothe run for a second-straight title, and they seem to have all the pieces necessary. With 2011 AVCA National Coach of the Year head coach Michael Sealy at the helm, UCLA returns nearly every starter and have a talented incoming class, which was ranked fifth-best in the country. All-American Rachael Kidder and All-Pac-12 honoree Kelly Reeves anchor the team in its quest for a repeat. But Sealy will have to manage the expectations and pressure naturally placed upon any defending champion. In addition, he is lacking the depth and experience he had a year ago at the setter position, but has the leadership and talent to make this year's Bruins a contender, once again. The preseason favorite to win the league and national titles, the Bruins will be looking for their first Pac-12 title since 1999. UCLA 2012 PAC-12 VOLLEYBALL / / PREVIEW

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