Utah Volleyball Team Picked to Repeat as MWC Champions

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Utah Volleyball Team Picked to Repeat as MWC Champions

Utes get eight first-place votes in preseason poll.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Utah volleyball team was selected to repeat as Mountain West Conference champions in the 2009 Preseason Coaches Poll voted on by a panel including the nine conference head coaches and selected media. In addition, junior opposite hitter Karolina Bartkowiak was named to the Preseason All-MWC Team.

 

The Utes tallied 138 points in the poll. Utah won last season’s championship with a 14-2 conference record, ending the league slate with 14 consecutive victories, en route to the second NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance in school history.

 

Colorado State was chosen second in the poll, collecting four first-place votes and 135 total points. New Mexico was 16 points ahead of BYU for third place, totaling 112 points and three first-place votes. The Cougars collected 96 points and a pair of first-place votes for fourth place in the poll. TCU (89 points) edged UNLV (87 points) by two points to claim fifth. The Rebels took sixth place and were followed by San Diego State (seventh, 53 points), Wyoming (eighth, 38 points) and Air Force (ninth, 17 points).

 

Bartkowiak, who earned All-MWC honors for the first time in her career in 2008, was one of the most efficient attackers in the league last season, finishing second in the MWC in hitting percentage at a .354 clip.

 

The Utes open the 2009 season against Arizona State on Friday, Aug. 28.

 

2009 Preseason MWC Volleyball Coaches’ Poll

 

Pl.        Team (1st place votes)          Points

1.         Utah (8)                                   138

2.         Colorado State (4)                   135

3.         New Mexico (3)                       112

4.         BYU (2)                                   96

5.         TCU                                        89

6.         UNLV                                     87

7.         San Diego State                        53

8.         Wyoming                                  38

9.         Air Force                                 17

 

2009 Preseason All-MWC Team

 

Player                                     Cl.       Pos.                 Team

Kayla Walker                           Sr.        RS                   BYU

Tessa Nelson                            R-Sr.    MB                  CSU

Lauren Salisbury                       Jr.        MB                  SDSU

Christy Hudson                         Jr.        RS                   TCU

Karolina Bartkowiak                Jr.        OPP                 Utah

 

Setter: Jade Michaelsen, Jr., UNM

Libero: Katelyn Blackwood, Sr., TCU

Preseason Co-Players of the Year: Tessa Nelson, CSU; Jade Michaelsen, UNM

 

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