2018 Preseason All-PacWest Team

Preseason Team Info Capsules

IRVINE, Calif. – Azusa Pacific was selected by the PacWest coaches as the favorite to win the 2018 conference title, leading the preseason poll released Wednesday. Coming off its first NCAA postseason appearance, the Cougars also had two players on the Preseason All-PacWest team, including Player of the Year Julianne Miller.
 
APU received nine of the 12 first-place votes to top the poll with 140 points. The Cougars have five starters returning from a team that went 22-7, finished in second in the PacWest and received the fifth seed in the NCAA West Regional. The 15-5 record in the PacWest was the program’s best ever.
 
Miller was named Preseason Player of the Year following a season in which she was first-team All-PacWest and led the nation with a .417 hitting percentage. She also totaled 387 kills and 105 blocks to earn three PacWest Player of the Week awards and two all-region honors. Teammate Sara Wagenveld was also on the Preseason All-PacWest team. Wagenveld ranked second to Miller in the conference in hitting percentage (.350) and just ahead of her with 106 blocks.
 
Biola came in second in the poll, receiving one first-place vote. The Eagles tied APU for second place in their first season in the PacWest and won the NCCAA National Championship. Preseason All-PacWest selection Sabrina Winslow led the team and ranked fifth in the conference with 335 kills.
 
Concordia also received a first-place vote and came in third place in the preseason poll behind Biola. Chaminade followed in fourth place, and Emma Tecklenburg was named to the Preseason All-PacWest Team. She was third in the PacWest in kills per set (3.77) and total kills (373).  Point Loma rounded out the top-five in the poll. Cara Keturakis was selected as Preseason Setter of the Year, coming off her second All-PacWest honor, 9.36 assists per set and two triple-doubles in 2017.
 
Hawai’i Hilo claimed a first-place vote and came in sixth in the poll. Mina Grant was named Preseason Libero of the Year as the top-returning defensive specialist, averaging 4.89 digs per set last season. Hawai’i Pacific’s Perla Escobar was also on the Preseason All-PacWest team. A third-team All-PacWest selection last year, she averaged 2.90 kills and 2.55 digs per set.