WALNUT CREEK, Calif. ? The UC San Diego women's volleyball team enters the 2008 season predicted to finish runner-up in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, it was announced Monday in a vote by the league's head coaches.  Two-time defending conference champion Cal State San Bernardino earned eight first-place votes to net 96 total points, while UCSD earned one first-place vote and received 83 points.  Cal State Los Angeles, Chico State (two first-place votes) and Cal Poly Pomona rounded out the top five.

Sonoma State (57 votes) was sixth in the voting and was followed by Cal State Monterey Bay (42), Humboldt State (40), Cal State Stanislaus (23), Cal State Dominguez Hills (19) and San Francisco State (18).

The 2008 season will mark the first for San Francisco State, which is beginning its inaugural year sponsoring women's volleyball.

The 2008 campaign is slated to begin the weekend of August 28 with teams competing in tournaments. CCAA play is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, September 10, when Cal State L.A. hosts Cal State Dominguez Hills.

The Tritons begin their season on Friday, August 29 against defending National Champion Concordia-St. Paul at the Coyote Classic in San Bernardino, Calif.

2008 CCAA Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll

Rank     Team (First place votes)    Points       

1. Cal State San Bernardino (8) - 96       

2. UC San Diego (1) - 83       

3. Cal State L.A. - 77       

4. Chico State (2) - 76       

5. Cal Poly Pomona - 74       

6. Sonoma State - 57       

7. Cal State Monterey Bay - 42       

8. Humboldt State - 40       

9. Cal State Stanislaus - 23       

10. Cal State Dominguez Hills - 19       

11. San Francisco State - 18