Aug. 1, 2007

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Rebels volleyball team was tabbed to finish in fourth place in the 2007 Mountain West Conference preseason poll as selected by the league's nine head coaches and various media personnel. The Rebels garnered one first place vote, while pulling in a total of 88 points for their fourth place selection. BYU was chosen as the team to beat, as the Cougars gathered 119 points with eight first place votes. Colorado State, who won the 2006 MWC Tournament, was selected first five times en route to a second place tally with 113 points. The defending regular season champion Utah Utes placed third with 108 points. New Mexico (54 points), San Diego State (51), Wyoming (50), TCU (43) and Air Force (14) rounded out fifth through ninth place, respectively.

UNLV senior outside hitter Maria Aladjova was the lone Rebel placed on the All-MWC Preseason Team. Aladjova, who was named to the 2006 all-conference team, was joined by BYU's Chelsea Goodman the MWC's Preseason Player of the Year.

The remaining five student-athletes that were named to the preseason squad were: Erica Lott (BYU), Mekana Barnes (Colorado State), Whitney Webb (Utah), Ashley Fornstrom (Colorado State) and Aime Cordeiro (San Diego State). Fornstrom and Cordeiro were chosen to the specialty positions of setter and libero, respectively.

The Rebels take to the court for the first time in 2007 with their own home tournament on August 24-25, as they welcome the Virginia Cavaliers, Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Arizona State Sun Devils to the Cox Pavilion. Virginia and Texas Tech get the tournament started with a 4:30 pm contest on the 24th, while UNLV and ASU follow at 7 pm.

2007 Preseason Volleyball Coaches' PollPlace    Team (1st place votes)    Points1         BYU (8)                   1192         Colorado State (5)        1133         Utah                      1084         UNLV (1)                  885         New Mexico                546         San Diego State           517         Wyoming                   508         TCU                       439         Air Force                 14
2007 Preseason All-MWC TeamPlayer                Cl.   Pos.   TeamChelsea Goodman        Sr.   OH      BYUErica Lott             Sr.   OH      BYUMekana Barnes          Jr.   MB      CSUMaria Aladjova         Sr.   OH      UNLVWhitney Webb           Sr.   OH/MB   UtahSetter:  Ashley Fornstrom, Jr., CSULibero:  Aime Cordeiro, Jr., SDSU
Preseason Player of the Year:  Chelsea Goodman, BYU