49ers Are Top Pick in Big West Volleyball Poll

LONG BEACH — Last season wasn’t a blast for the Long Beach State women’s volleyball team. Not by the 49ers’ standards, that is.

But the dry spell might be over.

In a preseason poll, 10 of 12 Big West Conference coaches chose the 49ers as the conference’s top team. Pacific received the other two votes.

“I was kind of surprised, considering [Pacific] and [UC] Santa Barbara are very good teams,” 49er Coach Brian Gimmillaro said. “But I think we can be a very good team.”

The 49ers finished 22-10 last season and were ranked 16th in one national poll. They were fourth in the Big West, finishing 12-6.

Long Beach lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament. That marked Long Beach’s earliest tournament exit since 1987. The 49ers’ run of four consecutive conference titles also ended.

Last season’s team featured many freshmen in key roles. The players from that class, led by former Newport Harbor High standout Misty May, the Big West’s freshman of the year, return.

“Our players are older now and we’ve also made some good additions,” he said. “I feel pretty good about the team.”