Coming off the school's most successful volleyball season since joining the Mountain West in 2013, the San José State volleyball team was picked fifth in the 2019 MW Preseason Coaches poll, announced Wednesday morning by the conference office.
The Spartans finished the conference season with an 11-7 record last year, good for fourth place. The team recorded the most MW wins in school history and had the highest conference since the team tied for fourth place in the 2006 Western Athletic Conference standings.
Defending champion Colorado State was selected first by the 10 other coaches to repeat. Wyoming was picked second by one point over UNLV, followed by Boise State, who garnered the other first-place vote.
2019 Mountain West Preseason Poll
1. Colorado State (10) 100
2. Wyoming 79
3. UNLV 78
4. Boise State (1) 73
5. San José State 66
6. Fresno State 56
7. New Mexico 50
8. San Diego State 41
9. Air Force 28
10. Utah State 19
11. Nevada 15
No Spartans were selected to the Preseason All-MW team as four Colorado State players received honors. SJSU returns All-MW players Latahevai Lousi and Thaliana Grajeda (honorable mention) this season.
2019 Preseason All-MW Team
- Mariena Hayden (UNLV)
- Breana Runnels (Colorado State)
- Kirstie Hillyer (Colorado State)
- Paulina Hougaard-Jenson (Colorado State)
- Lauren Twitty (New Mexico)
- SETTER: Katie Oleksak (Colorado State)
- LIBERO: Regan Leonard (Fresno State)
2019 Mountain West Volleyball Preseason Player of the Year – Katie Oleksak (Colorado State)
San José State begins the 2019 season at the Aggie Invitational August 30 and 31 in Davis, Calif. On the 30th, the Spartans play Pacific at 12:30 p.m., and UC Davis at 7:30 p.m. The team then plays Montana on Saturday at noon.
The Spartans will showcase their talents in a preseason scrimmage with the annual Blue & Gold Exhibition on Saturday, August 24, beginning at 2 p.m. Admission to the exhibition match is free.
The team opens the home portion of the schedule on Friday, September 13, as the team hosts Northern Colorado at 6 p.m., as part of the South Bay Battle. The Spartans then host Marist the next day, September 14, at 2 p.m.
San José State opens Mountain West play with a road match at San Diego State on Thursday, September 26, before returning home to face Fresno State on Saturday the 28th beginning at 2 p.m.
Tickets to San José State volleyball matches are $8 for adults, $5 for youth 12 and under, free for SJSU students with their Tower Card. Tickets are available at the door or by calling (408) 924-SJTX.
Be sure to follow the Spartans on social media and check the website periodically for ticket specials and promotions for matches throughout the season.
Twitter - @SanJoseStateVB
Instagram - @sjsuvolleyball