LA JOLLA, Calif. - The UCSD men's volleyball team has been picked to finish 12th in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Preseason Coaches Poll, released Wednesday by the league.

Brigham Young University amassed 115 points and took six of a possible 11 first place votes to earn the No. 1 position in the poll. UC Irvine was second with 112 points and four first place votes, while Stanford rounded out the top three with 92 points and a single first place vote. UCLA was fourth, garnering 90 points and the last first place vote.

The Tritons collected 11 total points in the poll to place 12th, finishing just behind Pacific (26 points) and UC Santa Barbara (32 points), which advanced to the NCAA national title match in 2011.

UCSD tied for 10th in the MPSF last season, posting a 9-20 overall record with a 5-17 league mark. The Tritons finished the year ranked 14th in the nation, but were touted as high as No. 11 for two consecutive weeks. 

The 2012 Tritons feature a solid mix of returners and first year players looking to step in and make an immediate impact on the floor. Head coach Kevin Ring returns three starters - outside hitters Carl Eberts and Nick Iorfino and middle blocker Sebastian Brady - plus primary libero Chase Frishman.

Ring will have to fill holes left by the graduation of setter Phil Bannan, the school's all-time leader in assists and service aces, and middle blocker Calvin Ross, the school's all-time blocks leader.

UCSD gets its 2012 campaign underway just after the new year as it hosts Brandon University out of Canada in an exhibition match at RIMAC Arena on Jan. 2 (4 p.m.). The Tritons then jump right into MPSF play with two matches at Hawaii on Jan. 5 and Jan. 6.

UCSD students are admitted free to all home matches with a valid ID.

2012 MPSF Preseason Coaches Poll
1. BYU, 115 points (6 first place votes)
2. UC Irvine, 112 (4)
3. Stanford, 92 (1)
4. UCLA, 90 (1)
5. USC, 72
T6. Long Beach State, 68
T6. Cal State Northridge, 68
8. Pepperdine, 62
9. Hawaii, 44
10. UC Santa Barbara, 32
11. Pacific, 26
12. UC San Diego, 11

- UCSDtritons.com -