The University of Alaska Fairbanks    

Volleyball poll puts UAF in 2nd

by RICHARD LARSON, Staff Writer, Fairbanks Daily News Miner

The University of Alaska Fairbanks volleyball team was picked to finish second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, based on its preseason coaches poll.

Western Washington was chosen to defend its crown, as the Vikings were picked to win the conference by eight of the 10 coaches and had 106 total points. UAF, which placed second last year, had 83 total points. Seattle University received the other two first-place votes and was chosen third overall with 74 points.

The rest of the poll has Central Washington in fourth with 69 points, followed by Alaska Anchorage (64), Seattle Pacific (54), Western Oregon (37), Humboldt State and Northwest Nazarene (28) and Saint Martin's (17).

"I don't think there's any surprise as to how the poll turned out," fourth-year UAF coach Phil Shoemaker said in a university press release. "It usually always goes by how the teams finished in the final stndings from the year before. Polls don't really mean a lot during the preseason. There's a big difference in points in a poll and points on the court."

Western Washington is on a 41-match conference winning streak and last year finished 18-0 in the GNAC and 23-3 overall. UAF was second in the GNAC at 13-5 league and 16-7 overall, just missing a bid to the NCAA Western Regional.

"Things have a way of working themselves out during the season," Shoemaker said. "There are a lot of factors that come into play and have an effect on a team's performance. Things like injury, schedule and training can really make a difference. That's why you can't take things for granted in this league."

The Nanooks open the season at the Cal Poly Pomona Invitational Aug. 29-30. UAF will face Division II foes Cal State Los Angeles, Chaminade, Cal Poly Pomona and Florida Southern University during the tournament.