SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – LMU beach volleyball earned six first-place votes to claim the top spot once again in the annual West Coast Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. The Lions also garnered six student-athletes on the preseason team. Pepperdine was next with three.
The coaches poll and preseason All-WCC team were selected solely by a vote of the conference's seven head coaches. Coaches cannot vote for their own teams and student-athletes.
LMU has now been picked to finish first in the last four consecutive WCC preseason polls. Last spring, the Lions won their fourth WCC title after winning the 2023 WCC Championship.
LMU totaled 36 points while Pepperdine was second with one first-place vote and 31 points. Santa Clara edged Saint Mary's for third with 24 points and the Gaels came in fourth with 22. Rounding out the poll was San Francisco in fifth (16 points), Portland in sixth (11 points) and Pacific in seventh (7 points).
Seven of the 2024 All-WCC preseason honorees previously earned a spot on the 2023 all-conference preseason team. In addition, six of the 2024 preseason honorees were tabbed to the 2023 WCC All-Conference First Team. Two of the preseason honorees picked up major awards last season, as well, with Valma Prihti of LMU being named part of the WCC Pair of the Year and Chloe Hooker of the Lions being named the WCC Freshman of the Year.
The 2024 season begins on Thursday, Feb. 22. The 2024 WCC Beach Volleyball Tournament will be held from April 25-26 at Ocean Park in Santa Monica, Calif.
2024 WCC Beach Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (Points)
1. LMU - (36) 6 first-place votes
2. Pepperdine - (31) 1 first-place vote
3. Santa Clara (24)
4. Saint Mary’s (22)
5. San Francisco (16)
6. Portland (11)
7. Pacific (7)
2024 All-WCC Preseason Beach Volleyball Team
Kate Clermont, Pepperdine
Madi Firnett, LMU
Hawley Harrer, Saint Mary's
Chloe Hooker, LMU
Valma Prihti, LMU
Jacinda Ramirez, LMU
Michelle Shaffer, LMU
Sarlota Svobodova, Pepperdine
McKenna Thomas, Pepperdine
Abbey Thorup, LMU