Washington tabbed as the favorite in the 2022 Pac-12 women's volleyball preseason coaches poll
» All-Time Pac-12 Women's Volleyball Coaches Poll Results (PDF)
SAN FRANCISCO – Defending Pac-12 champion Washington has been voted by the Conference’s women’s volleyball head coaches as the league’s preseason favorite for the upcoming 2022 campaign.
The Huskies, which have claimed the Pac-12 title in back-to-back seasons, garnered eight first-place votes and tallied 117 points to take the top spot in the annual coaches poll. Stanford finished second with 107 points and two first-place votes, followed by UCLA (98 points) and Oregon (93 points), which both picked up one first-place vote.
It’s the fifth time that Washington has led the Conference’s preseason rankings. The Huskies were previously voted to the top spot in 2021, 2017, 2009 and 2005. The preseason favorite has gone on to win the league title 21 times in the 36 years of Pac-12 women’s volleyball, including UW last season and in the Huskies' national championship season of 2005.
USC totaled 87 points and Washington State reeled in 68 points to round out the top half of the rankings. Utah finished seventh (50 points), Arizona State eighth (49 points), Colorado ninth (46), Arizona 10th (45 points), Oregon State 11th (20 points) and California 12th (12 points).
In addition to the annual coaches poll, the Pac-12 revealed the results of the Preseason All-Conference Team, which was also voted on by the league’s coaches.
Returning second-team AVCA All-Americans Caitie Baird (Stanford), Marin Grote (Washington), Kendall Kipp (Stanford) and Brooke Nuneviller (Oregon) headline the 15-player list.
Four AVCA All-America third teamers from a season ago are also on the preseason all-conference team for 2022 in USC's incoming transfer Skylar Fields, Washington’s Claire Hoffman and Ella May Powell, and Washington State's Magda Jehlarova. Powell is the two-time defending Pac-12 Setter of the Year.
Also on the list is Stanford's Kami Miner, the 2021 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.
Stanford and Washington each have three players on the team, which is tied for the most in the league.
The regular season begins on Friday, Aug. 26, with all 12 Conference teams in action. The league's teams will be featured 106 times this season across Pac-12 Networks and Pac-12 Insider, which is available on Pac-12.com and the Pac-12 Now app, as well as eight partner platforms, including Local Now, Redbox, Samsung TV Plus, Sling, Sportstribal, The Roku Channel, Vizio and Xumo.
2022 PAC-12 WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
Rank | School (First Place Votes) | Total Points |
1. | Washington (8) | 117 |
2. | Stanford (2) | 107 |
3. | UCLA (1) | 98 |
4. | Oregon (1) | 93 |
5. | USC | 87 |
6. | Washington State | 68 |
7. | Utah | 50 |
8. | Arizona State | 49 |
9. | Colorado | 46 |
10. | Arizona | 45 |
11. | Oregon State | 20 |
12. | California | 12 |
2022 PRESEASON ALL-PAC-12 WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL TEAM (ALPHABETICAL)
Player | Position | Height | Hometown |
Caitie Baird, Stanford | OH | 6-3 | Indianapolis, Ind. |
Skylar Fields, USC | OH/OPP | 6-2 | Missouri City, Texas |
Lauren Forte, UCLA | MB | 6-3 | Tempe, Ariz. |
Marin Grote, Washington | MB | 6-4 | Burbank, Calif. |
Claire Hoffman, Washington | OH | 6-2 | Pleasant Hill, Ore. |
Iman Isanovic, Arizona State | OH | 6-1 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Magda Jehlarova, Washington State | MB | 6-3 | Prerov, Czech Republic |
Kendall Kipp, Stanford | OPP | 6-5 | Newport Beach, Calif. |
Charitie Luper, UCLA | OH/OPP | 5-9 | Dallas, Texas |
Kami Miner, Stanford | S | 6-0 | Redondo Beach, Calif. |
Brooke Nuneviller, Oregon | OH/L | 5-11 | Chandler, Ariz. |
Ella May Powell, Washington | S | 6-0 | Fayetteville, Ark. |
Hannah Pukis, Oregon | S | 5-11 | Tacoma, Wash. |
Madelyn Robinson, Utah | OH | 5-10 | Highland, Utah |
Pia Timmer, Washington State | OH | 6-2 | Emlichheim, Germany |
*15-member preseason team due to a tie