Lady Jackets Picked to Finish Sixth in PacWest (Aug. 20, 2004)

BILLINGS, MT – The Pacific West Conference volleyball coaches picked Hawaii Pacific as the favorite to win the 2004 PWC volleyball title in a recent poll.  Montana State-Billings was picked to finish last in the six-team league.  Hawaii Pacific won the league title last year and advanced to the NCAA Pacific Region finals.  The Sea Warriors are ranked No. 12 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association preseason poll. 

The Yellowjackets were just 6-20 last season and finished last in the PacWest Conference with a 2-8 conference mark.  Coach Pa’ulasi Matavao has an experienced squad returning in 2004 and says he is excited about the upcoming season.

“We were so young last year, so a lot of those kids saw a lot of playing time,” said Matavao.  “We had good spring practices, so we’re expecting good things from this group.  Ten of the players on the roster this fall played in the spring.  We’re maturing and I think we can sneak up on some teams in the conference."

BYU-Hawaii, which would have won the conference title last year but for an ineligible player, was tabbed to finish second in the coaches poll.  The Seasiders are ranked No. 18 in the nation in the AVCA preseason poll.  Following BYU-Hawaii in the conference poll are Western New Mexico, Chaminade and Hawaii-Hilo. 

2004 PacWest Volleyball Poll
1. Hawaii Pacific University (48 points – 4 first place votes)
2. Brigham Young University-Hawaii (44 points – 1 first place vote)
3. Western New Mexico University (32 points)
4. Chaminade University (28 points)
5. University of Hawaii-Hilo (16 points)
6. Montana State University-Billings (12 points)