Aug. 1, 2001
SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Santa Clara University volleyball team, the defending West Coast Conference Champions, has been picked to finish third in the 2001 WCC race according a preseason poll of the league's coaches, the conference office announced today.
The Broncos received 48 points to tie with San Diego in a tally of the conference's eight head coaches. Santa Clara returns two starters from last season's title-winning team (27-5, 13-1 WCC). Leading the way will be WCC Freshman of the Year Becky Potter and All-WCC Performer Jami Bari.
Pepperdine, the team Santa Clara defeated in the league's final match last season to claim the conference title, was voted as the favorite to win the WCC title in the preseason poll for the third straight season. The Waves received seven first-place votes and compiled 63 total points to take the top slot. Loyola Marymount was picked second while San Diego tied with the Broncos for third. San Francisco, Saint Mary's, Portland and Gonzaga rounded out the poll.
Santa Clara opens the season August 31 against South Carolina at the Phoenix Airport Hilton/Sun Devil Challenge in Tempe, Ariz. The Broncos will begin the home schedule with the Santa Clara Invitational, hosting Creighton, UC Santa Barbara and North Carolina on September 8 and 9.
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WCC Preseason Volleyball Poll
| 1. | Pepperdine (7) | 63 |
| 2. | Loyola Marymount (1) | 49 |
| 3. | San Diego | 48 |
| Santa Clara | 48 | |
| 5. | San Francisco | 31 |
| 6. | Saint Mary's | 18 |
| 7. | Portand | 16 |
| 8. | Gonzaga | 15 |
( ) first place votes