College volleyball: UVU picked for third in..

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In its first year in the WAC, Utah Valley was picked to finish third by coaches in the preseason poll, with Wolverines Brookelyn Hall and Lauren Stringham selected to the preseason all-conference team.

UVU, which finished 18-9 during its championship run in the Great West Conference last season, came in third in the poll with 44 points. New Mexico State was picked to win the conference, while Idaho was chosen to finish second. Seattle U picked to finish fourth, while Bakersfield, Kansas City, Texas-Pan American, Grand Canyon and Chicago State rounded out the poll.

Hall and Stringham each earned first team all-conference honors in the Great West last year. Stringham was named freshman of the year, leading the GWC in total blocks (148), block assists (136) and block per set average (1.45) in 2012.

Hall finished second in the GWC in assists last year with 961 as well as second in assists per set average (9.42). Hall also led UVU in double-doubles a year ago with 13.

UVU open the season at home on Aug. 30 by hosting the La Quinta Inn & Suites Invitational. —

2013 WAC Volleyball Preseason Poll

Rank Team (first-place votes) Points

1 New Mexico State (7) 62

2 Idaho (2) 58

3 Utah Valley 44

4 Seattle U 39

5 Bakersfield 38

6 Kansas City 35

7 Texas-Pan American 21

8 Grand Canyon 17

9 Chicago State 10

College volleyball: UVU picked for third in WAC