Moving On Up
A week after making its first appearance in the AVCA Top 25 since 1988 with a No. 22 ranking, UC Irvine moved up two spots in the latest poll to hold the No. 20 slot. The Anteaters have opened the 2009 season with a perfect 6-0 record, which includes a win over then-No. 6 California. Big West members Long Beach State and UC Santa Barbara are receiving votes in this weeks poll. This is the first national recognition of the season for the Gauchos after they posted two wins against then-ranked No. 15 San Diego last weekend.
UC Santa Barbara Posts Back-To-Back Wins Over No. 15 San Diego
The Gauchos visited the 15th-ranked San Diego Toreros over the weekend and came back with two victories, 3-1 and 3-2, improving their overall record to 4-1. UC Santa Barbaras four wins came at the hands of 2008 NCAA Tournament participants. Fridays contest marked UCSBs first victory over a ranked school since defeating Santa Clara, ranked No. 22, on Sept. 15, 2007. In Saturdays contests, Lily Lopez, a sophomore middle blocker, set a new career-best with 15 kills.
Fullertons Zimmerman Eyeing 100th Career Win
Current head coach Carolyn Zimmerman, the all-time winningest coach in Cal State Fullerton history, and her Titan volleyball team opened the season with a perfect 6-0 mark to increase her career win total to 96. Currently in her eighth year at the helm of the Cal State Fullerton program, Zimmerman has guided the Titans to a .500-or-better overall record four of the last five seasons.
UC Davis Shines At Wynn Invitational
The Aggies opened the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational with a loss to host Missouri State, but quickly regained their composure and posted 3-0 marks against the next three opponents to tally a 3-1 record at last weeks event. UC Davis, having swept its opponent in every win this season, currently owns an overall record 5-2.
Picture Perfect
Two weeks into the 2009 season and two Big West schools have maintained an unblemished record of 6-0 - UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton. The Anteaters kicked off the new year with an impressive victory over No. 6 California and continued their winning ways to claim both the Nevada Marriottt Courtyard/Fairfield Invitational and most recently the UCI Classic. The Titans had the luxury of opening the season with their home event - The Crowne Plaza Titan Classic - where they went 3-0. Fullerton followed that up with a win over Montana on Tuesday and two victories in the Active Ankle Challenge. The 6-0 record to begin the season is a school-best for the Titans.
Block Party
Led by Tella Burnett (1.16 BPG) and Angela Hupp (1.09 BPG), the Cal State Northridge Matadors pace the Big West Conference with a 2.45 block average. The Matadors best performance so far this season was a 16-block outing against Northern Arizona on August 29.
Titans On Top
The Cal State Fullerton Titans sit atop the league in three statistical categories - assists (14.50), kills (15.23) and digs (17.05). Individually, Erin Saddler owns the top spot in kills with a 5.73 average, while teammate Andrea Ragan ranks first in assists at 12.68 APG. Libero Cami Croteau leads the way in the dig category with a 5.05 dig per game average.
Acing the Competition
Not surprisingly, with three of the top five conference statistical leaders in service aces, the Pacific Tigers own the top spot with a 2.0 aces per game. Mallori Gibson paces the Tigers squad and Big West Conference with a .50 average, followed by Svenja Engelhardt (3rd - .44) and Rebekah Torres (T5th - .39).
Entering The Win Column
Cal Poly and UC Riverside both picked up their first win of the season last weekend after going 0-3 in their season-opening tournaments. The Mustangs closed out the Molten Classic with a 3-2 victory over Weber State to improve to 1-6. Competing in the Sacramento State Invitational, the Highlanders notched a win against the Hornets (3-2). UC Riverside enters this week with a 1-5 overall mark.
Versus The Top 25
After facing two ranked opponents last week, once again, Cal Poly has a Top 25 team on its docket this week. Heading back to the Rocky Mountains this weekend for the CU-DU Volleyball Tournament, the Mustangs tackle No. 24 San Diego along with hosts Denver and Colorado. The Anteaters battle their second ranked Pac-10 opponent Tuesday evening when they visit the Galen Center to take on the No. 15 USC Women of Troy.
Cal Poly, UC Irvine Welcome Top Newcomers
In the annual prepvolleyball.com Top 30 recruiting class poll, two Big West Conference teams made the cut - Cal Poly and UC Irvine. The Mustangs were selected ninth overall, while the Anteaters were tabbed 24th. Four other Big West schools received various honorable mention honors - UC Santa Barbara, Pacific, UC Davis and Long Beach State.
49ers Return To The Court As Conference Favorite
The Long Beach State womens volleyball team was selected to win its second straight, 10th overall, Big West Championship after receiving four first-place votes and 75 total points, according to the conference coaches in the annual Big West womens volleyball preseason coaches poll. The 49ers, looking to secure a 23rd consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2009, enter the season as defending Big West champions after capturing their ninth title a season ago with a 13-3 conference mark.
California Girls
The Big West Conference is a California-only league and two schools have followed suit with their 2009 lineups. UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara each showcase rosters comprising entirely of players from the Golden State. In 2008, the Aggies were the lone Big West members to have their complete roster hailing from California.
Crowning The Champion
Of the nine current members in the Big West Conference, four of them have captured at least one Big West title- Cal Poly, Long Beach State, UC Santa Barbara and Pacific. Long Beach State leads the quartet with nine conference championships, followed by UC Santa Barbara and Pacific with five apiece. The Mustangs round out the field with three titles.
Big West On Twitter
The Big West Conference is excited to bring Big West Live to Twitter, a Twitter feed designed to give fans an in-the-stands view of select Big West Events. Bringing near-instantaneous photos, commentary, and updates, Big West Live is the first feed of its kind. Moving beyond the scores and stats, Big West Live delivers the color of Big West events.