Last week, UH and UCLA split a two-match series. UH won the first match in five games. UCLA, which moved from No. 2 to No. 1 this week, won the rematch in four games.

The pollsters "probably gave them the nod on that," UH coach Mike Wilton said. "But you know what, I think BYU is a really good team, and I think Long Beach State is good, too."

UCLA received seven No. 1 votes and 229 points from the panel of 16 pollsters. UH earned six No. 1 votes and 227 points.

Third-ranked Brigham Young, which is in first place in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, received two No. 1 votes and 211 points. No. 4 Long Beach State received the other No. 1 vote.

"I don’t think too much of the polls except for the last one," Wilton said. "Now the MPSF standings, that’s some real reality."

The top eight teams in the 12-team MPSF qualify for the conference’s postseason tournament. The highest remaining seed hosts the semifinals and championship match. The MPSF tournament winner, not the regular-season champion, earns the conference’s automatic berth in the NCAA final four. The lone at-large spot usually goes to an MPSF school.