Issue link: https://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/724830
2016 PAC-12 VOLLEYBALL // PREVIEW 8 PRESEASON NOTEBOOK Gabby Simpson, Colorado Penina Snuka, 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 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. The Conference had seven teams earn NCAA Tournament bids in 2015, marking the 15th-consecutive year at least six league teams participated in the postseason. Eight players were named All-Americans, and the AVCA National Player of the Year and AVCA National Freshman of the Year were among them. The future of Pac-12 volleyball looks as strong as ever, with teams hauling in their share of top recruits. 2016 is no different with 13 Volleyball Magazine FAB 50 selections appearing on seven league rosters, the second most of any conference. Four Pac-12 teams also had recruiting classes that ranked in the top 10 nationally according to Volleyball Magazine, with the league occupying the top-three spots. Here is a brief look at the teams of the Pac-12 as they prepare for the 2016 campaign: ARIZONA The Wildcats have a balance of veterans and newcomers this season that could propel them back into the top half of the Pac-12 standings after back-to-back top-five finishes in 2013 and 2014, before finishing seventh in 2015. In his 25th season at the helm, head coach David Rubio has a pair of seasoned veterans to turn to in seniors Penina Snuka and Kalei Mau. Snuka is one of the top set- teres in the Conference, earning honrable mention All-America honors last season, while Mau had a career year, more than doubling her match appear- ances and becoming one of the top hitters in the country. Arizona also welcomes the 10th-ranked recruiting class in the nation which will provide depth to a team that already returns the majority of its starting lineup from a year ago. ARIZONA STATE The 2015 campaign was a tale of two seasons for the Sun Devils. ASU got off to the best start in the history of the program, winning 15 in a row to open the season, and was on pace to have one of its best seasons in program history, but suffered a major blow in the middle of the season when their All-American suffered a season-ending injury. After that, ASU won just four matches the rest of the way. While Arizona State still earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament, it still felt as if it had fallen short of expecations. Now, ASU not only has to contend with the loss of impact players, but also has new leadership at the coaching helm. Head coach Steve Mussie arrived in Tempe in the spring with plenty of championship experience as a player and coach. She looks to turnaround the Sun Devils and get them back on track this season. CALIFORNIA The Golden Bears have had back-to-back disap- pointing seasons that snapped a 12-year streak of NCAA Tournament berths, including a national championship match appearance in 2010. California has also been marred by injuries in recent seasons, directly impacting the team's depth. Still, head coach Rich Feller and the Bears are feeling optimistic for the 2016 campaign. Cal is heavy on experience this season, including at the setter position where senior Alyssa Jensen has been directing the offense since stepping on campus as a freshman. Classmate Maddie Kerr also returns to anchor the defense. The athletic libero has made her way into the top 10 in the Cal record book. The duo will be looked to for leadership and to bring along a talented incoming class. Depth at the oustide hitter position will not be lacking as eight players on the roster are listed at the position. Cal should have a strong presence at the net, as well, with five middle blockers compet- ing for playing time there. Feller will not be short on options in 2016. COLORADO The Buffs had a second-straight top-five showing in the Pac-12 but found themselves on the outside looking in to the NCAA Tournament after back-to- back postseason bids. Colorado has struggled with consistency right out of the gate to start the season each of the last few years, but seemingly is in full stride once the Pac-12 schedule begins and has managed to pull off some upsets in Conference play, putting it in the conversation for a NCAA Tournament spot in each of the last two seasons. The Buffs will be dangerous again after having lost just two start- ers from last season's team. Additionally, Colorado welcomes a talented incoming class that will add depth at all positions. Leading the way will be the sister duo of Gabby and Cierra Simpson. Younger sister Gabby has developed into one of the premiere setters in the Conference, earning a spot on the Preseason All-Pac-12 team. She looks to direct an effective offense once again this season, while her sister Cierra anchors the defense from the libero spot. The Buffs also look to continue on an upward trajectory with a new coach at the helm. OREGON The expectations for the Ducks have gone up the last few years, especially since advancing to the national championship match in 2012 for the first time in the history of the progam. It is understandable, then, that last year's first round NCAA Tournament exit and sixth-place Pac-12 finish felt like a disappoint- ing season for Oregon. The expectations have gone back up for 2016. With the return of Preseason All-Pac-12 honoree Lindsay Vander Weide, as well as the second-ranked recruiting class in the nation, Oregon looks to find its place among the top of the Conference. This idea is also bolstered by the fact that the Ducks have recruited back-to-back top-five recruiting classes, so it is potentially a dangerous squad with plenty of talent and depth with the abil- ity to take any team down. Those combinations in the always-rigorous Pac-12 sets up what could be a deeper run in the NCAA Tournament in 2016. OREGON STATE The Beavers welcome new head coach Mark Bar- nard, but should be a smooth transition since he spent the last 11 years on the bench with former head coach and Hall of Famer Taras Liskevich. Oregon State is just one year removed from a his- toric season where the team advanced to the NCAA 2016 PAC-12 PRESEASON COACHES POLL 1. Stanford (9) 119 2. UCLA (1) 103 3. Washington (1) 99 4. Oregon 95 5. USC (1) 85 6. Arizona 72 7. Colorado 50 8. Utah 48 9. Washington State 46 10. California 27 11. Arizona State 26 12. Oregon State 22 * First-place votes in parentheses.