Once again, a Long Beach State volleyball team has a target on it. 

Yesterday, the conference office announced that the 49ers were picked to defend their 2008 Big West volleyball championship in the 2009 Big West Preseason Coaches Poll.

Long Beach received four first place votes and 75 total points to lead the way among the conference’s nine teams, but the count was close. UC Irvine was second with three first place votes (73), while Cal Poly received the remaining two first place votes (62).

LBSU is looking to secure a 23rd consecutive NCAA appearance, a record that coach Brain Gimmillaro is eager to extend.  CLICK HERE FOR AN INTERVIEW WITH COACH GIMMILLARO

UC Irvine was second in the poll with 73 points, two points behind the 49ers for the top spot. Cal Poly was third with 62 points, while Pacific and UC Santa Barbara were slated to finish fourth and fifth with 54 and 48 points respectively.

Cal State Fullerton was sixth with 36 points after losing defending Big West Player of the Year Brittany Moore, while Cal State Northridge, UC Davis and UC Riverside rounded out the second half of the poll.

Long Beach State starts the 2009 season on Aug. 28, hosting San Diego at 7pm in the ‘Myd. Season tickets for the 2009 campaign are on sale now.

 Coaches Poll (First Place Votes)- Total Votes

1. Long Beach State (4) – 75

2. UC Irvine (3) – 73

3. Cal Poly (2) – 62

4. Pacific – 54

5. UC Santa Barbara – 48

6. CS Fullerton – 36

7. CS Northridge – 26

8. UC Davis – 16

9. UC Riverside – 15

Report By LBSU