July 25, 2006
LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Rebel volleyball team has been selected to finish fourth in Mountain West Conference regular season play this upcoming season. A voting panel, including the nine MWC head coaches and selected media, chose BYU and Utah as the co-favorites to win the 2006 regular season title.
The Rebels received 83 points for to place fourth, while BYU and Utah tallied 116 points apiece. The Cougars and Utes each took six first-place votes, while Colorado State collected the remaining two. The Rams came in third with their 103 points. San Diego State and Wyoming tied for fifth with 59 points each. New Mexico (42), TCU (41) and Air Force (14) rounded out spots seven through nine.
Lauren Miramontes, a junior middle blocker, was the only Rebel named to the 2006 Preseason All-MWC Team. Miramontes is coming off a 2005 season in which she garnered AVCA All-West Region accolades.
The Rebels open play on Aug. 25, at the Cox Pavilion when they host Cal Poly at 7:00 p.m., in the UNLV Classic. Joining UNLV and Cal Poly in Las Vegas are Oral Roberts and Oregon State.
For the second straight season the MWC's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament will be decided in Las Vegas. The Rebels will play host to the MWC Volleyball Championship Nov. 22-25.
2006 Preseason All-MWC TeamPlayer Cl. Pos. TeamChelsea Goodman Jr. OH BYULindsy Hartsock Sr. MB BYUErica Lott Jr. OH BYULauren Miramontes Jr. MB UNLVAirial Salvo So. OH Utah
Setter: Shannon Krug So. UtahLibero: Aime Cordeiro Jr. SDSU
2006 Preseason Volleyball Coaches' PollPlace Team (1st votes) Points1 BYU (6) 116 Utah (6) 1163 Colorado State (2) 1014 UNLV 835 San Diego State 59 Wyoming 597 New Mexico 428 TCU 419 Air Force 14
