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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 8 P R E S E A S O N N O T E B O O K Lindsey Vander Weide, Oregon Shardonee Hayes, Arizona The Pac-12 continues to show it is the premiere conference for women's volleyball, showcasing the nation's top talent and coaches. With a record 15 NCAA titles to its credit and a team in the nation semifinal for the 33 time, no other conference in the country can match the Pac-12's success. The Conference had nine teams earn NCAA Tournament bids in 2017, marking the 17th-consecutive year at least six league teams participated in the postseason. It also marked the fourth time in five year the Pac- 12 sent at least eight teams to the tournament. Ten players were named All-Americans, and the AVCA National Player of the Year was among them. The future of Pac-12 volleyball looks as strong as ever, with teams hauling in their share of top recruits. 2018 is no different with 13 Volleyball Magazine FAB 50 selections appearing on five league rosters, the second most of any conference, and two top-five nationally ranked recruiting classes joining the league this season. Here is a brief look at the teams of the Pac-12 as they prepare for the 2018 campaign: ARIZONA The Wildcats are coming off an uncharacteristic season that saw them end the season with its low- est finish since 1991. Arizona was plagued with inconsistency because of its youth and having to contend with significant losses due to graduation. In 2018, however, the Wildcats are another year older and another year wiser with 12 letterwinners returning, including six starters. The Wildcats are still a fairly young team with just two starters, but bring back plenty of experience after being relied upon last season. Leading the way for UA is senior Kendra Dahlke who has been a major contributor for most of her career, ranking among the top-two on the squad in kills and points the last two seasons. After bringing in a highly-touted recruiting class to Tucson in 2017, head coach Dave Rubio has fol- lowed up with another outstanding freshman class that includes the Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year in Whittnee Nihipali. ARIZONA STATE The Sun Devils are coming off a tough season that saw them go winless in the Pac-12 in 2017. In her second season at the helm, Sanja Tomasevic looks to turn things around. With nearly ever player back this season, she looks to build upon the hard lessons learned. Among the returnees is their top setter in junior Nicole Petersen. Petersen was among the top distributors in the Conference last year, the top-seven being freshmen and sophomores. Tomasevic also brings in a pair of high-profile transfers that look to bolster the team immediately. Senior Alyse Ford and sophomore Claire Kovensky both bring experience with high levels of success. Ford helped USC finish second in the Pac-12 last season and advance to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinal. Kovensky was tabbed the Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year at Grand Canyon. CALIFORNIA The Golden Bears have a new mentor at the helm and she looks to bring some consistency to the program as Cal is looking at its third coach in three years. Serving under former head coach Rich Feller, who had been the Bears' head coach for 18 years, Jennifer Dorr takes the lead chair for the first time in her career. She looks to break a string of 11th- and 12th-place finishes Cal has faced the last four years after putting together a streak of 12-straight years with a NCAA Tournament appearance. Dorr has significant contributors returning, including outside hitters Carmen Anevelink and Mima Mirkovic. In addition, Dorr has the benefit of welcoming back sophomore setter Isabel Potter who earned the starting spot at the position as a freshman. Seven newcomers come to Berkeley to help steer the ship, six of which are freshmen. Among them is Darian Clark who was among the top prep players in the country an a three-time AVCA Phenom pick. COLORADO The Buffs look to continue on its upward trajectory that saw them make a big turnaround last season, which led to a return to the NCAA Tournament. Expectations are beginning to mount for Colorado after the Pac-12 coaches picked it to finish fifth in the Conference, just one point out of fourth place, and is ranked 15th in the national preseason poll. Colorado has every significant contributor returning, which has led to the belief that the Buffs are in for another good season. Senior outside hitter Alexa Smith was the Buffs' top option on attack, going on to earn AVCA All-American honors. Getting the ball to her was then-freshman Brynna Deluzio, one of the top distributors in the Pac-12 last season and the AVCA Pacific South Freshman of the Year. Colorado welcomes a four-member freshman class that head coach Jesse Mahoney will need to develop in order to fill in some voids left behind by graduations of key contributors. OREGON The Ducks were picked to finish third in the Pac- 12 and received a No. 18 national ranking in the preseason. Oregon has a lot to be optimistic about with eight letterwinners returning from last season and depth at nearly every position. Head coach Matt Ulmer can also boast the program's best incoming class in program history, recruiting the fourth-ranked class in the nation. Oregon has four starters back from last season's squad, as well as its top liberos. In its arsenal is All-Pac-12 performer Ronika Stone, as well as Lindsey Vander Weide who was an All-Pac-12 pick in 2015 and 2016, as well as an All-American two years ago. In addition, the five-member freshman class is expected to challenge for positions immediately, considering some of the accolades this class brings with it, including two top-15 ranked players in setter Kylie Robinson and outside hitter Brooke Nuneviller. While the Ducks' finish in the Pac-12 last year was a little disappoint- ing, they still advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the seventh year in a row. 2018 PAC-12 PRESEASON COACHES POLL 1. Stanford (11) 121 2. USC (1) 100 3. Oregon 96 4. UCLA 90 5. Colorado 89 6. Washington 73 7. Washington State 64 8. Utah 47 9. Arizona 46 10. Oregon State 27 11. Arizona State 24 12. California 15 * First-place votes in parentheses.