August 1, 2007

Tigers tied for sixth in poll

By The Record

Pacific and Cal State Fullerton tied for sixth with 33 points in the Big West Conference preseason women's volleyball coaches poll conducted Tuesday.

Defending champion Cal Poly was tabbed as the favorite with eight first-place votes and 80 total points. The Mustangs return five starters and their libero from a nationally-ranked team that reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2006.

Long Beach State, led by 2006 Big West Co-Player of the Year Alexis Crimes, was second with one first-place vote and 70 points. UC Irvine and UC Santa Barbara tied for third. Cal State Northridge was fifth, UC Davis eighth and UC Riverside ninth.

Pacific finished seventh with a 3-11 conference record last season. The Tigers return senior middle blocker Johanna Hilbers, senior libero Julie Magud, junior outside hitter Alexa Anderson, sophomore setter Dancyne Kama and sophomore middle blockers Meagan MimMack and Masha Vaysburg. All were starters last season.

Kama is expected to cede the setter position to Utah transfer Shannon Krug, but coach Charlie Wade said she will play a key role in the back row. The Tigers also welcome back junior outside/opposite hitter Kara Uhl, a 2005 First Team All-Big West selection who redshirted last season after undergoing season-ending surgery on her left leg.

Golf City Championship

The Stockton City Championship is this weekend at Van Buskirk and Swenson Park golf courses. A field of 122 golfers will compete in championship, first and second flights, as well as seniors and ladies. The championship flight plays Saturday at Van Buskirk and Sunday at Swenson Park. The flights, seniors and ladies play Saturday at Swenson and Sunday at Van Buskirk. Play starts at 7:30 a.m. both days. Last year's championship flight winner, Matt Hollinsead, and three-time city champion Tony McBroom are entered.