Issue link: https://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1021958
9 2 0 1 8 P A C - 1 2 V O L L E Y B A L L M E D I A G U I D E P R E S E A S O N N O T E B O O K Kathryn Plummer, Stanford Khalia Lanier, USC Mac May, UCLA OREGON STATE Oregon State made a return to the NCAA Tourna- ment for just the second time since 2002, winning a program-record number of Pac-12 games. Head coach Mark Barnard was named the Pac-12 Coach of the Year at season's end and looks to build on OSU's upward trajectory over the last couple of years. He relied on a mostly young squad last sea- son, which means most are back for this season, including four starters. However, he has to replace two key figures, including Mary-Kate Marshall, who carried the program from the time she stepped on campus, and 2017 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Kylee McLaughlin who decided to transfer. Leading the way in 2018 are senior Kory Cheshire and sophomore Maddie Goings who were behind Marshall in scoring and kills. STANFORD Defending Pac-12 Champion Stanford has nearly everyone back from the 2016 NCAA Championship team and the Cardinal are, by far, the favorite to win it all - the league crown and the national title. The Cardinal have the talent to back up the expectations including reigning AVCA National Player of the Year and Pac-12 Player of the Year Kathryn Plummer. Head coach Kevin Hambly, who enters his second season at the helm, has four of five All-American returning for 2018. He has experience at every posi- tion, including at setter where Jenna Gray has been directing the offense, leading to Pac-12 Setter of the Year and All-American nods. Classmate Morgan Hentz is one of the top players in the country and was tabbed the Pac-12 Libero of the Year, while Audriana Fitzmorris, also an incoming junior, was an All-American at the middle blocker position. The core of this team has been playing together for two seasons, although they reached the national semi- final last season, it still felt like unfinished business as the defending national champion. This team's challenge will be responding to the expectations that have been placed on them over the last three years. UCLA The Bruins come into 2018 after facing one of their worst Pac-12 seasons in recent history. That's not saying much considering the lofty expectations that are frequently placed on the Bruins who were tied for fifth in a league that earned nine bids to the NCAA Tournament last season. UCLA finished the season in strong fashion, advancing to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Expectations continue to run high for the squad, earning a No. 11 national ranking to start the season. UCLA has just two se- niors on the roster, but bring back an experienced young team to build around. It does have to replace Sarah Sponcil, who had a significant impact in her only season with UCLA from the setter position. Of note are three members of the team - sophomore Mac May, senior Zana Muno and junior Savvy Simo - who were major contributors to the UCLA beach volleyball team's NCAA title victory in the spring. All three have big roles to play and that experience could carry over to the indoor game. USC The Trojans will look different from last season, start- ing at the top with a new head coach at the helm in Brent Crouch. Crouch arrives in Los Angeles after turning around a Portland program that had been winless prior to his arrival and earning WCC Coach of the Year honors in 2016. Despite the differences, USC is still garnering lofty expectations, earning a top-10 preseason national ranking and finishing second in the Pac-12 coaches poll. One of the big- gest reasons the Trojans are held in such high regard despite the losses is because Crouch inherits one of the top players in the country in Khalia Lanier, a first team All-American and a powerful attack. She will get help from sophomore Brooke Botkin whose contributions gew as the season went on. Senior libero Victoria Garrick also brings experience on defense. Crouch welcomes a group of newcomers that includes four freshman and a couple of transfers that can help Lanier keep the Trojans among the nation's top programs, including All-WCC performers Jasmine Gross and Emily Baptista. UTAH The Utes are coming off their best season since joining the Pac-12, advancing to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Utah lost a lot of production from a high-powered offense that was among the best in the nation last year, losing three of its top- four scorers. Among those Utah will be feeling the loss of is All-American Adora Anae who ended her career ranked in the top-10 all-time in the Pac-12 in career kills. Returning for her senior campaign, is preseason All-Pac-12 pick Berkeley Oblad. She has been a consistent producer for the Utes since arriving on campus as a freshman. Ranked 19th in the preseason, the Utes have four starters back, including junior Bailey Choy who is among a corp of talented setters in the Pac-12. The Utah offense was one of the most potent in the country under Choy's direction. The team's top libero returns, as 2018 PRESEASON ALL-PAC-12 Naghede Abu, Colorado Kara Benjamin, Washington Audrianna Fitzmorris, Stanford Madeleine Gates, UCLA Jenna Gray, Stanford Morgan Hentz, Stanford Khalia Lanier, USC Mac May, UCLA Taylor Mims, Washington State Berkeley Oblad, Utah Kathryn Plummer, Stanford Alexa Smith, Colorado Ronika Stone, Oregon Lindsey Vander Weide, Oregon