CENTRAL VOLLEYBALL PICKED FIFTH IN GNAC PRESEASON POLL

New-Look Wildcats Tabbed to Finish in Middle of Conference Standings

With 12 newcomers on its 19-player roster, the Central Washington volleyball team has been picked to finish fifth in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in 2009, according to the preseason coaches poll.

The Wildcats finished fifth in the nine-team conference last season, posting an 8-8 league record and a 16-12 overall mark. Central lost six seniors from that team, including four starters.

Western Washington received six first-place votes in the poll and 60 overall points, edging out defending GNAC champion Western Oregon (50 points). Northwest Nazarene and Seatt le Pacific were also picked ahead of CWU, while Alaska, Alaska Anchorage, Montana State Billings, and Saint Martin's round out the poll in sixth through ninth, respectively.

Among Central's returnees are junior libero Brandie Vea (Honolulu, Hawaii/Kalani High School) and senior right-side hitter Erin Norris (Spokane, Washington/Mead High School). Vea, an honorable mention Division II All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Associati on (AVCA) last season, set single-match and single-season records for digs, ranking second in the GNAC with 6.08 digs per set (626 total). Norris, the school record-holder for service aces in a single season and a career, was an honorable mention all-conference choice last season.

Also returning is sophomore setter Carlee Marble (La Conner, Washington/La Conner High School), who redshirted the 2008 campaign after averaging 10.73 assists per set as a true freshman in 2007. Junior outside hitter Kady Try (Brentwood, California/Mead High School), a regular starter during each of her first two Wildcat seasons, also returns as an offensive and defensive threat.

Of the Wildcats' 12 newcomers, seven are true freshmen, while two others—setter Devin Larson (Mukilteo, Washington/Kamiak High School) and Jalisa Bullock (Tacoma, Washington/Wilson High School)—redshirted their initial seasons with the Central program last fall. A pair of junior college middle blockers, Bri Gregory (Bremerton, Washington/Bremerton High School/Green River Community College) and Kristel Baeckel (Gresham, Oregon/Sam Barlow High School/Clackamas Community College), are new this season, as is defensive specialist Ashley Brodie (Puyallup, Washington/Emerald Ridge High School/Northwest University).

True freshmen whom fourteenth-year head coach Mario Andaya (Central Washington University, 1993; 201-160 career record) expects to make an impact include outside hitter Marcy Hjellum (Kennewick, Washington/Kamiakin High School), who helped take the Braves to the WIAA Class 4A state championship match as a senior. Also expected to see early action is middle blocker Averyl Shindruk (Lynden, Washington/Lynden High School).

Andaya and the Wildcats opened the 2009 season at the Seawolf Spike Invitational in Rohnert Park, California, on August 28-29 before making their home debut on September 3-4 by hosting the eight-team CWU Invitati onal. The team's GNAC opener is September 17 at Western Oregon.

2009 GREAT NORTHWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL

1. Western Washington (6), 60
2. Western Oregon, 50
3. Northwest Nazarene (2), 47
4. Seattle Pacifi c (1), 43
5. CENTRAL WASHINGTON, 39
6. Alaska, 33
7. Alaska Anchorage, 27
8. Montana State Billings, 15
9. Saint Martin's, 8