The 2024 Big West Women’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches‘ Poll has been released, and the Cal Poly Mustangs have emerged as the favorites to claim the conference crown. With a total of 94 points and five first-place votes, the Mustangs are leading the pack, nine points ahead of their closest competitor, Hawai’i, the 2023 Big West Championship victor.
Cal Poly boasts a strong lineup, retaining five starters from the previous season and over 90% of their production in kills, sets, and blocks. Tommi Stockham, a redshirt senior outside hitter, is a key player to watch as she looks to make history by becoming just the second Mustang and 14th player in Big West history to make the Four-Time First Team list in 2024. Stockham is joined by a group of experienced upperclassmen, including Kate Slack, Lizzy Markovska, Emme Bullis, and Annabelle Thalken, as the Mustangs aim to secure their first Big West title since 2018.
In the preseason poll, Hawai’i comes in second with 85 points and three first-place votes. The Rainbow Wahine have a strong tradition of success, having won four straight Big West titles and making 30 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances since 1993. Players to watch on the Hawai’i roster include setter Kate Lang and outside hitter Caylen Alexander, both of whom were selected for the Preseason All-Big West team.
Long Beach State, the 2023 runners-up, secured the third spot in the poll with 83 points and two first-place votes. Under the guidance of first-time NCAA Division I head coach Natalie Reagan, the Beach team is looking to make a strong impression this season. Key players like Zayna Meyer and Natalie Glenn are expected to lead the team to success on the court.
UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego, and UC Irvine round out the top six in the preseason poll, with UC Santa Barbara receiving the final first-place vote. The Gauchos are looking to rebuild after graduating key seniors, while UC San Diego is entering its first fully-eligible NCAA Division I season with new head coach Melanie Greene at the helm.
The 2024 Big West Women’s Volleyball Championship is set to take place from November 27-30 at UC Irvine’s Bren Events Center. The top six teams in the regular-season standings will compete for the conference’s automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship.
Fans can look forward to a season filled with exciting matchups, with over 125 women’s volleyball broadcasts scheduled across the Big West landscape. The action kicks off on August 30, with Long Beach State joining the competition on August 31. The conference play is set to begin on September 24, culminating in a nationally-televised showdown between Long Beach State and Hawai’i on October 5, airing on ESPNU.
Overall, the 2024 Big West Women’s Volleyball season promises to be an exciting and competitive one, with top teams vying for supremacy and a chance to make their mark in the conference and beyond. Fans can expect thrilling matches, standout performances from talented athletes, and a showcase of the best that collegiate volleyball has to offer.