LA MIRADA, Calif. --- The PacWest Conference released its preseason recognitions for women's volleyball on Wednesday afternoon. Biola Volleyball, after back-to-back second-place finishes was picked by the coaches to finish third in 2019.
Sami Hover, a returning All-PacWest player, was selected as the preseason Libero of the Year.
"I definitely believe Sami is one of the best liberos in the conference," said Head Coach Aaron Seltzer. "It's nice to see that the coaches from the other schools see that as well. We look forward to great things this year from her."
Biola Volleyball earned one of 12 first-place votes in the preseason coaches' poll and accumulated 115 total points to sit third behind preseason favorites Azusa Pacific (142 points (12)) and Chaminade (124 points (1)).
The preseason poll is not always the best indicator of how the season will play out, but sometimes it hits the nail on the head. In 2017 the Eagles were picked to finish ninth in conference play and went on to go 15-5 in PacWest play and finish second. Last season, the Eagles were selected to repeat in second place and did just that with a 19-3 conference mark.
Biola has some key losses from last year's roster, including 2018 PacWest Player of the Year Sierra Bauder. But, Bauder's joined the coaching staff and BU has a big crop of incoming student-athletes that should make 2019 an exciting year.
APU won the conference title in 2018, edging Biola by one game. They were convincingly picked to repeat and also sport the preseason conference player of the year, senior middle blocker Julianne Miller.
Chaminade began to break out last season, finishing in a tie for third place with a 17-5 conference mark. Biola went 2-0 against the Silverswords in 2018 and 1-1 vs. the Cougars.
Point Loma (107), Hawaii Hilo (104) and Concordia Irvine (87) make up the rest of the top half of the poll. Hawaii Pacific is seventh (83) and is also in the bunch that's expected to compete this season.
PacWest Conference play doesn't begin until September 20. The Eagles open the conference slate with three road matches against teams in the bottom half of the preseason table (Holy Names, Academy of Art, Fresno Pacific).
The first true test (at least on paper) figures to be Concordia-Irvine inside of Chase Gym on Sept. 28. It's the Eagles first home match of the year and the first conference home match for any sport since Biola's been named full members of NCAA Division II.
There will be a NCAA celebration that night with free food, free shirts and a chance to win some Biola Adidas gear.
Biola did not land any players on the seven-person preseason all-conference list, but Hover was one of three players to win a major preseason award. Miller was player of the year, Point Loma's Cara Keturakis was preseason setter of the year and Hover took the honor as top libero.
Hover enters her junior season with no doubt surrounding her talent as the anchor of Biola's back row. She had an incredible 2018 season with 604 digs (4.76/set) and All-PacWest second team recognition. Her digs-per-set number is the highest for a Biola libero since 1990.
The 2019 season begins with the annual alumni game in Chase Gym this Saturday (Aug. 31) before the Eagles hit the road to Alaska for the 2019 Alaska Anchorage Invitational. The first countable contest in vs. Regis (Colo.) at 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 5.
