Issue link: https://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/372643
8 // 2014 PAC-12 VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE // PREVIEW BreElle Bailey, Arizona State Penina Snuka, Arizona State 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 14 NCAA titles to its credit and a team playing in the national championship match for the third- consecutive year last year, no other conference in the country can match the Pac-12's success. A league- record nine league teams earned NCAA Tournament bids in 2013, marking the 13th-consecutive year at least six league teams participated in the postseason. In 2013, 11 players were named All-Americans, including five first-team honorees. For the fourth- straight year, the national player of the year was a Pac-12 player, as well. The future of Pac-12 volleyball looks as strong as ever, with teams hauling in their share of top recruits. 2014 is no different with 11 Volleyball Magazine FAB 50 selections appearing on six league rosters, the second most of any conference. Four Pac-12 teams also had recruiting classes that ranked in the top nine nationally according to PrepVolleyball.com. Here is a brief look at the teams of the Pac-12 as they prepare for the 2014 campaign: ARIZONA The Wildcats had a strong showing in 2013, posting the most wins in a season since 2005 with a 21-13 record after finding a consistent starting rotation. This year, a solid core of seasoned returning starters led by four-year letterwinner Madi Kingdon is primed to take Arizona further into the postseason. Kingdon was a first team AVCA All-Pacific South Region selection, as well as an honorable mentin AVCA All-American, and is a strong centerpiece for the UA offense in her senior year. Returning to direct the floor is setter Penina Snuka, who lived up to the hype last season as UA's starting setter. She started all 34 matches and averaged 10.14 assists per set as a freshman, which ranked fifth in the Conference. Despite the departure of libero Candace Nicholson, the Cats have plenty of designated defensive specialists who can vie for the starting libero spot. ARIZONA STATE The Sun Devils look to build upon their momentum from the last two seasons after advancing to the NCAA Tournament for two-straight years. ASU posted back-to-back seasons with 19 or more wins for the first time since 1992-93. Led by junior standout Macey Gardner, who led the team in kills per set for the second-straight year, Arizona State returns the majority of its top talent for 2014. All six of ASU's top scorers are back for another season, including senior Nora Tuioti-Mariner, who entered halfway through the season last year but still recorded the third-best kills per set average on the roster, and will look to be a consistent starter in the upcoming season. Setter Bianca Arellano, who stepped into the starting role after transferring from Tennes- see, is back to direct the floor for the Sun Devils. Familiarity will be the key for ASU after spending last season building a foundation and having the majority of their starting rotation back for a second season. Despite the many returnees, ASU will be missing libero Stephanie Preach, who was one of the top performers for the Sun Devils and a vocal leader for the team. CALIFORNIA The Golden Bears started out 2013 strong, posting seven-consecutive sweeps to begin the season. But the injury bug hit towards the end of the season, losing six of its last seven matches and falling in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Rich Feller hit the recruiting trail hard and brought in the ninth-ranked recruiting class in the nation, including three of PrepVolleyball.com's Top 100 Senior Aces, so the depth of Cal's roster this year may make up for its lack of experience. Returning for the Bears is senior Christina Higgins, an AVCA second team All-American who was second on the team in scoring last year with a 3.92 points per set average. Higgins will anchor the Bears offense on the heels of returning middle blockers Lillian Schonewise and Lara Vukasovic. Schonewise was a consistent player for the Bears, appearing in all but one set, but Vukasovic was one of many Cal players to suffer an injury at the end of the 2013 season and will have to step into more of a leadership role this year to fill the absences of Adrienne Gehan and Joan Caloiaro. COLORADO The Buffs made a strong statement last season, continuing their climb in the Pac-12 after three years of consistent improvement. 2013 saw Colorado advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006, posting the most wins in a single season since 2003 and the most Conference victories since joining the Pac-12. The Buffs have a well-balanced roster with some new additions to provide depth behind an already experienced squad that is eager to reach the postseason for a second-consecutive season. Both of CU's leading scorers return in senior Taylor Simpson and junior Alexis Austin. Simpson was a force both offensively and defensively, with 390 kills, 68 blocks and 288 digs in 2013. Also coming back for CU is junior Nicole Edelman, the starting setter for the Buffs who not only passed the 2,000 career assist mark as a sophomore but also had 89 kills and 52 blocks. OREGON The Ducks have established themselves as one of the best teams in the nation in recent years, and 2013 proved no different as UO posted its third- consecutive 20-win season and its seventh NCAA Tournament appearance in eight years. Despite losing five letterwinners, Oregon brings in the eighth- ranked recruiting class in the nation – the highest ranking ever for a UO class – with seven newcomers overall. Notable returnees for the Ducks include two-time AVCA All-American Liz Brenner, who led the team in scoring last year, and sophomore libero Amanda Benson, who was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team after recording the most digs in a single season for a freshman in school history. Oregon will have to rely on a new face at starting setter after Lauren Plum's departure, but the Ducks have plenty of returning and incoming talent to continue their streak as one of the best teams in the nation. PRESEASON NOTEBOOK 2014 PAC-12 PRESEASON COACHES POLL 1. Stanford (5) 114 2. USC (5) 113 3. Washington (2) 106 4. Arizona State 73 T5. California 70 T5. Oregon 70 7. Colorado 62 8. UCLA 58 9. Arizona 51 10. Utah 39 11. Washington State 25 12. Oregon State 11 * First-place votes in parentheses.