Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Tabbed Ninth in Big West Coaches' Preseason Poll
8/21/2024 12:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
IRVINE, Calif. - The CSUN women's volleyball team was picked to finish ninth by the conference's coaches in the 2024 Big West Preseason Poll released on Wednesday, Aug. 21.
With Aquiles Montoya set to open his first season as head coach, the Matadors received a total of 21 points to rank ninth in the 11-team poll.
"Having one of the youngest rosters and newest coaching staffs in the conference, we were not expecting to place very high in the preseason poll," said Montoya. "We do believe that we can finish higher than predicted, but we also know that every match in this conference is a dogfight."
Cal Poly was deemed the slight favorite to win the 2024 conference title after receiving five first-place votes and 94 total points. Defending Big West Champions Hawai'i received three first-place votes and 85 points to finish second followed by Long Beach State with a pair of first-place votes and 83 points. UC Santa Barbara received the final first-place vote and 75 points to place fourth. The remainder of the poll features UC San Diego (63 points), UC Irvine (60), UC Davis (49), Cal State Bakersfield (35), the Matadors (21), Cal State Fullerton (20) and UC Riverside (20).
"The challenge the Big West presents is why our student-athletes want to play here," added Montoya. "The focus is to make those who support and believe in us proud, rather than prove this poll wrong. I'm proud of our players and know that we'll make the right people proud if we keep working the way we have the entire preseason."
CSUN returns a host of starters from its 2023 season finale, including Leah Miller, Paige Sentes, Iye Okolo, and Tatiana Turgeon. Miller averaged 2.30 kills per set to lead all returners while Sentes had 36 aces (0.32 per set) to rank ninth in the Big West. Turgeon returns after hitting a team-high .298 on 218 attacks last season while Okolo had 53 blocks to rank just behind Miller's 56.
The 2024 season also figures to see the debut of several new players to the CSUN roster including Natalia Brandlin (MB, 6-1, Jr.), Hailey Brockway (OH, 5-11, So.), Katie Kolar (S, 5-9, So.), Presley Nippert (OPP, 6-0, So.), Autumn Rojelio (L/DS, 5-2, Jr.), and Amaris Smith (OH, 6-2, Jr.).
The Matadors open the 2024 season with an exhibition against Cal State LA on Aug. 24 at 2 p.m. CSUN will officially open the 2024 regular season next week (Aug. 30-Sept. 1) in Moscow, Idaho.
2024 Big West Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' PollÂ
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() - First-place votes
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#GoMatadors
With Aquiles Montoya set to open his first season as head coach, the Matadors received a total of 21 points to rank ninth in the 11-team poll.
"Having one of the youngest rosters and newest coaching staffs in the conference, we were not expecting to place very high in the preseason poll," said Montoya. "We do believe that we can finish higher than predicted, but we also know that every match in this conference is a dogfight."
Cal Poly was deemed the slight favorite to win the 2024 conference title after receiving five first-place votes and 94 total points. Defending Big West Champions Hawai'i received three first-place votes and 85 points to finish second followed by Long Beach State with a pair of first-place votes and 83 points. UC Santa Barbara received the final first-place vote and 75 points to place fourth. The remainder of the poll features UC San Diego (63 points), UC Irvine (60), UC Davis (49), Cal State Bakersfield (35), the Matadors (21), Cal State Fullerton (20) and UC Riverside (20).
"The challenge the Big West presents is why our student-athletes want to play here," added Montoya. "The focus is to make those who support and believe in us proud, rather than prove this poll wrong. I'm proud of our players and know that we'll make the right people proud if we keep working the way we have the entire preseason."
CSUN returns a host of starters from its 2023 season finale, including Leah Miller, Paige Sentes, Iye Okolo, and Tatiana Turgeon. Miller averaged 2.30 kills per set to lead all returners while Sentes had 36 aces (0.32 per set) to rank ninth in the Big West. Turgeon returns after hitting a team-high .298 on 218 attacks last season while Okolo had 53 blocks to rank just behind Miller's 56.
The 2024 season also figures to see the debut of several new players to the CSUN roster including Natalia Brandlin (MB, 6-1, Jr.), Hailey Brockway (OH, 5-11, So.), Katie Kolar (S, 5-9, So.), Presley Nippert (OPP, 6-0, So.), Autumn Rojelio (L/DS, 5-2, Jr.), and Amaris Smith (OH, 6-2, Jr.).
The Matadors open the 2024 season with an exhibition against Cal State LA on Aug. 24 at 2 p.m. CSUN will officially open the 2024 regular season next week (Aug. 30-Sept. 1) in Moscow, Idaho.
2024 Big West Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' PollÂ
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| 1. | Cal Poly (5) | 94 |
| 2. | Hawai'i (3) | 85 |
| 3. | Long Beach State (2) | 83 |
| 4. | UC Santa Barbara (1) | 75 |
| 5. | UC San Diego | 63 |
| 6. | UC Irvine | 60 |
| 7. | UC Davis | 49 |
| 8. | Cal State Bakersfield | 35 |
| 9. | CSUN | 21 |
| 10. | Cal State Fullerton | 20 |
| 10. | UC Riverside | 20 |
() - First-place votes
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#GoMatadors
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
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