Complete Preseason Release from the WCC

Santa Clara, Calif. – Standouts on the court and in the classroom, Santa Clara placed two volleyball players on the West Coast Conference Preseason All-Conference Team released Wednesday with 2010 All-WCC First Team member Tanya Schmidt and 2010 All-WCC Honorable Mention Team member Dana Knudsen making the 12-woman preseason team.

"It's great both Dana and Tanya has been recognized by the leagues coaches as two of the best players in the WCC.  They have worked hard during their careers and even harder this summer to prepare to have fantastic 2011 campaigns," said Bronco head coach Jon Wallace.  "Both of them demand attention from everyone we play from an offensive standpoint.  They have worked very hard this off-season to become better defenders as well.  I am proud of all the hard work they have put in and look forward to watching them grow more this season."

Both Schmidt and Knudsen were named to the WCC Commissioner's Academic Honors list this past year.

Schmidt was named to the All-WCC First Team after she played in 102 sets and averaged 2.23 kills per set.  She was also honored as the only player from the WCC on the Academic All-American All-District team, sporting a 3.97 in English.

Knudsen was named All-WCC Honorable Mention in 2010.  She played in 102 sets and averaged 2.77 kills per set with 255 total kills, collecting a .326 hitting percentage.  Knudsen was named to the WCC All-Freshman team the year before after she played in 105 matches, averaging 2.26 kills per set. 

Pepperdine was picked to win the league and Santa Clara was picked to finish fourth in the new nine-team league with the addition of BYU. 

"Our goal is to be at the top of the league by the end of the season and obviously we have our work cut out for us as practice begins on Aug. 9," said Wallace.