LA MIRADA, Calif. --- The PacWest Conference released its annual preseason poll for volleyball on Wednesday. Following a second-place finish one year ago, Head Coach Aaron Seltzer's team was selected to finish second in 2018.

The Eagles received one of the 12 first-place votes, but it was arch nemesis Azusa Pacific who took the top spot in the poll and claimed nine first-place votes. Four of the top-5 spots in the preseason poll were occupied by former Golden State Athletic Conference schools, with Chaminade being the lone exception at No. 4. Concordia-Irvine (No. 3) and Point Loma (No. 5) round out the top-5.

California Baptist won the conference one year ago, but is now a NCAA Division I member and part of the Western Athletic Conference. Dixie State is also gone from the conference now, playing in the RMAC. The Trailblazers finished seventh last year and without those two teams the conference now shrinks to 12 members.

Biola went 15-5 in conference play last year to tie with the Cougars for second place. APU (1) and CBU (2) accounted for three of Biola's five conference losses. The Eagles return most of their starting lineup from 2017, with one major exception being reigning PacWest Libero of the Year, Tess Van Grouw.

Look for sophomore Sami Hover to step into the libero role this season and make it a smooth transition for Biola. Christina DenBoer is also expected to return from injury this year and should be a powerful offensive force all the way around the rotation for BU.

Along with the preseason rankings, the PacWest released its Preseason All-PacWest team. Sabrina Winslow (jr. - OH) represents the Eagles on the seven-person team. She was second on the team in kills one year ago with 335, which was also the 10th-best in the conference.

She was tasked with a heavy workload last year, racking up 168 digs, which was tops on the team among attacking players. At the end of the year, Winslow was rewarded with NCCAA All-American honors.

Biola begins its season in just over a week at the Fairfield Inn Invitational, hosted by Northwest Nazarene. The Eagles' home season (and PacWest slate) begins Sept. 9 vs. Fresno Pacific.