Three SCIAC volleyball teams have been ranked in the AVCA Week Two Coaches Poll, with NCAA Championship quarterfinalist University of La Verne leading the way at No. 7 ahead of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges and Whittier College.
AVCA Poll
La Verne claimed its first SCIAC Tournament trophy since the competition began in 2009 and won a regional NCAA championship in Massachusetts, ousting No. 4 MIT
via sweep and No. 15 Colby College (
3-1) before
snapping three-time national champion Juniata College's 76-set win streak. A Preseason All-America candidate, 2023 SCIAC Offensive Athlete of the Year
Mya Ray, returns alongside other front-row threats in
Zacky Coaston (Second Team All-SCIAC),
Lauren Gott (2023 First Team All-SCIAC) and
Kimi Watanabe-Mayhew (2024 SCIAC Newcomer of the Year).
CMS bowed out of the NCAA Championship in the second round and has since graduated four multiple-time All-Conference players, but the lone returning honoree as a First Team selection,
Brooke McKee, will be looking to continue a late-career breakout after notching 3.90 kills per set and 43 aces while
Shae Delany also contributed 2.26 kills and 2.87 digs per set to go with 36 aces.
Solvej Eversoll provided a solid presence at the net with 1.06 blocks per set.
Whittier College came up just short of a bid to the NCAA tournament but welcomes back
Mia D’Amato at middle blocker, where the 2023 Newcomer of the Year made 1.11 blocks per set with 2.09 kills per set. Rotation ever-presents
Sofia Zazueta and
Malena The comprise a strong front row.
All three teams are slated to begin competition this weekend in Claremont as part of the Pacific Coast Classic.
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