SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara volleyball had two players named to the WCC Preseason Volleyball Team on Thursday. Junior Nikki Hess and sophomore Kirsten Mead were the two Broncos honored. Santa Clara was also picked to finish in second place behind national runner-up BYU. The Broncos received three of 10 first place votes from the league's head coaches.

"It's an honor to be picked so high in our conference, which is one of the better conferences in the country," said Santa Clara head coach Jon Wallace. "To be looked at so highly by the other coaches is a reflection of the type of girls we have in our program and their maturity over the last couple of years. I'm really pleased the coaches have acknowledged Nikki Hess and Kirsten Mead as some of the top players in our conference. We have an incredible conference with incredible players so to have two girls on that list shows well for our program and where we're at right now."

Hess led Santa Clara in kills last year with 405 and 3.68 kpg. She hit .225 and was third on the team with 242 digs. She added 27 service aces. Hess was named First Team All-WCC in 2014.

Mead, the WCC Freshman of the Year, led the Broncos with 125 assists and 11.9 apg. She collected 180 digs to go with 56 kills. She finished third with 35 aces. Mead was the fourth Bronco to receive Freshman of the Year and was named both All-WCC Honorable Mention and to the WCC All-Freshman Team.

2015 WCC Preseason Volleyball Coaches Poll

2015 All-WCC Preseason Volleyball Team