Utah State campus briefs

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL: With 38 votes, Utah State has been picked to finish fourth in the Western Athletic Conference's preseason poll according to the league's coaches. Hawai'i was picked to win its 15th WAC regular-season title.

The fourth-place prediction for Utah State is its second-highest in its six years in the WAC. Last season, the Aggies were picked to finish third, its highest prediction.

"Preseason polls are just that — preseason, no one gets an award for the preseason poll. It is a way to get people thinking about our league and volleyball. Our team is looking forward to getting in the gym Monday and working hard to improve on last season," said fifth-year head coach Grayson DuBose.

The coaches also voted on the preseason award winners and Hawai'i junior Kanani Danielson was the unanimous pick for WAC Preseason Player of the Year.

Utah State returns seven starters and 11 letterwinners from last year's team that went 15-14 overall and finished in seventh-place in the WAC with a 6-10 conference mark. Senior setter Chelsea Fowles is among the returners, along with senior middle blockers Katie Astle, Shantell Durrant and Danielle Taylor, senior libero Christine Morrill, and junior outside hitters Emily Kortsen and Liz McArthur. McArthur was named second-team all-WAC in 2009, while Astle, Fowles and Morrill all earned second-team all-WAC honors in 2008. Taylor was named second-team all-WAC in 2007. Kortsen also earned all-league honors in 2008 as she was named to the WAC's all-freshman team.

USU opens the 2010 campaign on Saturday, Aug. 28 at the Utah Tournament at Salt Lake City, opening with UC Davis at 1 p.m. (MT) before facing host and in-state foe Utah at 7 p.m. (MT). The Aggies host another Beehive state team in their home-opener on Tuesday, Aug. 31 when Weber State visits the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Match time is slated for 7 p.m. (MT).

Fans can follow USU volleyball at twitter.com/USUVolleyball and Utah State athletics at twitter.com/USUAthletics.

2010 WAC Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank Team Points

1. Hawai'i (8) 64

2. New Mexico State (1) 57

3. Fresno State 44

4. UTAH STATE 38

5. Boise State 35