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2017 PAC-12 VOLLEYBALL // PREVIEW 2 0 1 7 – 2 0 1 8 10 PRESEASON NOTEBOOK Pac-12 volleyball continues to recruit marquee student-athletes. Eight 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 Preslie Anderson, 6-3, MB-OH, California Dani Barton, 6-1, RS, Utah Brooke Botkin, 6-4, OH-S, USC Lauren Forte, 6-4, MB, California Alexis Light, 6-5, OH, UCLA Mackenzie May, 6-3, OH, UCLA Meghan McClure, 6-0, OH, Stanford Jen Mosser, 5-11, OH, UCLA Jaden Newsome, 6-0, S, Colorado Emily Ryan, 6-4, MB, UCLA Lauren Sanders, 6-5, MB, Washington Katie Smoot, 6-1, OH, Arizona 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 ..................................... 20 Pac-12 ................................. 12 SEC ............................................ 6 Big 12......................................... 5 ACC ............................................ 4 Mountain West ............................ 2 Big East ...................................... 1 Casey Schoenlein, Washington State doubt a lot is expected of the Utes. They were voted to finish fourth in the Pac-12, with one first-place vote. That would amount to their best-ever finish. WASHINGTON Washington is again the Pac-12 favorite and there is little reason to think otherwise. The Huskies and second-year head coach Keegan Cook welcome back all six starters from a year ago, including All- American and Pac-12 Player of the Year Courtney Schwan. Teammates Crissy Jones and Bailey Tan- ner are also back after All-American campaigns a year ago. Needless to say, UW will not be short on experience. Tanner directed the third-most efficient offense in the Pac-12 last year, while leading the Conference in assists per set. High expectations loom over the Huskies, who have won back-to-back Conference crowns and three of the last four. The test will be how they deal with those expectations, including breaking through to the national semifinals, a feat they have failed to accomplish after reaching the regional finals two years in a row. A third-straight Pac-12 title and another deep run in the NCAA Tournament is not out of the realm of possibility. WASHINGTON STATE The Cougars are coming off a historic campaign, reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009, then winning their first postseason match since 2002. Head coach Jen Greeny was tabbed the Pac-12 Coach of the Year after leading WSU to a top-five finish in the Conference, the team's best finish in 15 years. The majority of the squad is back for 2017 and looking for a repeat performance, if not better. Among those back this season are juniors Taylor Mims and Claire Martin who were a large reason the Cougs were the third- best blocking team in the nation. Four Cougs also had the opportunity to play with collegiate national teams over the summer, and those extra reps only make the team stronger. One drawback, however, is the loss of three-time All-Pac-12 honoree Kyra Holt, who graduated last season. She was the fo- Christine Alftin, California Adora Anae, Utah AVCA PRESEASON RANKING 1. Texas (25) 1547 2. STANFORD (35) 1533 3. WASHINGTON (2) 1370 4. Minnesota (2) 1349 5. Nebraska 1313 6. Penn State 1249 7. Wisconsin 1145 8. Kansas 1085 9. Creighton 1007 10. BYU 975 11. North Carolina 939 12. Florida 925 13. UCLA 866 14. Kentucky 654 15. Florida State 641 16. Michigan 615 17. Michigan State 523 18. OREGON 498 19. Missouri 424 20. Hawai'i 343 21. Ohio State 332 22. San Diego 287 23. UTAH 203 24. ARIZONA 174 25. Purdue 147 Also Receiving Votes: USC 105, Western Kentucky 98, Dayton 71, Washington State 67, Iowa State 62, Colorado State 55, Pittsburgh 49, Baylor 37, Kansas State 36, Boise State 21, Wichita State 7, Texas A&M 6, SMU 2. cal point of the WSU offense her four seasons. That will be a big void to fill regardless of all the experience that returns. However, WSU has the depth and talent to make something happen.