UH volleyball favored in WAC

Advertiser Staff

Western Athletic Conference volleyball coaches believe Hawai'i will continue to dominate, but not as it has in the past, by the looks of the preseason poll announced yesterday.

The Rainbow Wahine, who have won their last 90 WAC matches, received just half the 10 first-place votes cast by conference coaches. Fresno State got three, Rice and Nevada one each.

In the closest vote since Brigham Young left the WAC after the 1998 season, Hawai'i collected 74 points to FSU's 66. Rice (59), Nevada (58) and SMU (58) were all within 20 points.

The Rainbows lost seven seniors, including three All-Americans, off last year's 36-2 team. Kanoe Kamana'o, the 2004 national freshman of the year, will attempt to set UH to its seventh consecutive WAC championship.

Fresno returns four starters, including honorable mention All-American Kristen Fenton.

Hawai'i's season opens Sept. 2 against Eastern Washington.