Cowgirls Picked 8th In MWC

(UWYO.EDU) The Wyoming Cowgirl volleyball team was selected to finish eighth as the Mountain West announced the 2013 preseason volleyball poll and all-conference team today. The voting panel consisted of the league's 11 head coaches.

Defending league champion San Diego State was chosen as the favorite to win the 2013 MW regular season title. The Aztecs, 2012 MW co-champions with Colorado State, collected nine first-place votes and 99 total points. The Rams were selected to finish second with 90 points and received the two remaining first-place votes. Five points separated third through sixth place with UNLV edging out newcomer Utah State for third with 70 points to the Aggies' 68. New Mexico and Fresno State were separated by one point as the Lobos earned 66 points for fifth place and the Bulldogs were sixth with 65. Boise State landed in seventh with 51 points, followed by Wyoming in eighth with 37, newcomer San José State in ninth with 27, Air Force in 10th with 17 and Nevada rounded out the poll with 15.

San Diego State senior Johnna Fouch was named the 2013 MW Preseason Player of the Year and the designated setter on the seven-member All-MW Preseason Team. Fouch is joined on the preseason team by fellow Aztec Raegan Shelton, New Mexico teammates Chantale Riddle and Miquella Lovato, and Colorado State setter Deedra Foss. Fresno State's Korrin Wild and UNLV's Madeline Westman round out the list of preseason honorees as selected by the head coaches. Six of the seven members are returning 2012 All-MW team members. Fouch and Riddle also are returning honorable mention All-Americans.

The Cowgirls return four starters and eight letterwinners to a team that went 21-11 overall and 8-8 in league action a year ago. They welcome back two-time all-conference selection Erin Kirby at the middle blocker spot, along with first time All-MW honoree Becky Stewart. Wyoming opens up the regular season, on Friday, August 30 as they host the UniWyo Wyoming Invite.