Issue link: https://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1161821
2 0 1 9 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 V I E W 10 P R E S E A S O N N O T E B O O K Pac-12 volleyball continues to recruit marquee student-athletes. Five 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 Caitie Baird, 6-3, OH, Stanford Natalie Berty, 6-3, OH, Stanford AnnaMarie Dodson, 6-4, MB, UCLA Madison Horin, 6-3, MB, USC Kendall Kipp, 6-4, MB/OH, Stanford Alex Laita, 6-1, OH, Oregon Morgan Lewis, 6-3, RS/MB, Oregon Kalen Owens, 6-2, OH, USC Sophie Summers, 6-3, MB, Washington McKenna Vicini, 6-2, MB, Stanford Taylor Williams, 6-3, OH, Oregon Selina Xu, 5-11, S, Stanford 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 ..................................... 18 Pac-12 ................................. 12 Big 12......................................... 7 ACC ............................................ 4 SEC ............................................ 3 WCC ........................................... 3 Big West ..................................... 2 Ashley Brown, Washington State blocker to help redshirt sophomore Phoebe Grace, who ranked fifth in the Pac-12 in blocks per set. WASHINGTON No. 13th-ranked Washington's prospects for a suc- cessful 2019 are good. With six starters returning and 13 letterwinners, plus add a talented incoming class, the Huskies are positioned well for a deep NCAA Tournament run. UW had its lowest Pac-12 finished since 2001 but surged at the end of the season to make a NCAA regional semifinal appear- ance. Washington will be led by AVCA All-American Kara Bajema, the team's leading scorer a year ago. The Huskies have plenty of depth among the outside hitters who will need to step up and help Bajema with offensive production. Sophomore Ella May Powell emerged as a reliable setter in her collegiate debut, ranking fifth in the Pac-12 in assists per set, the second-highest average among the league's freshmen. Head coach Keegan Cook also has a lot of options at middle blocker, with experienced upperclassmen returning in junior Lauren Sand- ers and senior Avie Niece, both of which started every match they played in. Added to the mix is VolleyballMagazine.com Fab 50 freshman Sophie Summers. The Huskies look to be a threat at the service line again after leading the Conference in aces last season. WASHINGTON STATE The Cougs are in the midst of the program's most- successul three-year run, last season advancing to the NCAA regional semifinal for the first time in 10 years. Ranked 22nd in the AVCA Preseason Coach poll, Washington State has a lot of questions to answer with only four letterwinners returning. The four, however, were key contributors and will be the core of the 2019 squad. Senior Ashley Brown is back to direct the offense which last year broke the program's 16-year old record for points in a season. Redshirt senior Jocelyn Urias, a Mexican National Team member, was one of the top middle blockers in the Pac-12 while senior Alexis Dirige is Kory Cheshire, Oregon State Ella May Powell, Washington AVCA PRESEASON RANKING 1. STANFORD (62) 1598 2. Nebraska (1) 1451 3. Minnesota 1414 4. Texas 1385 5. Wisconsin 1329 6. Illinois 1258 7. Kentucky 1204 8. Penn State (1) 1182 9. BYU 1111 10. Florida 1028 11. OREGON 934 12. Pittsburgh 827 13. WASHINGTON 797 14. USC 664 15. Michigan 645 16. Marquette 596 17. Purdue 571 18. Creighton 457 19. Tennessee 438 20. Baylor 407 21. San Diego 313 22. WASHINGTON STATE 289 23. Cal Poly 213 24. ARIZONA 157 25. Louisville 120 Also Receiving Votes: Missouri 100, UTAH 56, Colorado State 51, UCF 45, Pepperdine 36, Florida State 33, Hawai'i 13, Northern Iowa 13, TCU 10, UCLA 7, Cincinnati 6, Rice 6, South Carolina 6, Texas State 6, Loyola Marymount 4, COLORADO 3, Kansas 2. among the top liberos in WSU history. Junior Penny Tusa saw limited time last season but will be the most experienced outside hitter on the team. Head coach Jen Greeny brings in seven newcomers, plus has four redshirts that will get their opportunity on the court this season. One thing is clear, Washington State will be mostly inexperienced in 2019 but the Cougs have been a consistent threat the last three seasons and this year's talent should continue that.