Aug. 4, 2008

LAS VEGAS -

The UNLV Rebel volleyball team was picked to finish fifth in the 2008 Mountain West Conference Preseason Poll, as voted on by the league's head coaches and selected media. Colorado State, the 2007 MWC regular season champion, was picked to repeat in 2008, as they obtained 13 first-place votes and a total of 125 points. Utah came in second with 95 points, while BYU garnered one first-place vote and 82 points for third. New Mexico was selected fourth with 81 points, 18 more than UNLV's 63. TCU (56 points), San Diego State (48), Wyoming (28) and Air Force (15) round out sixth through ninth place, respectively.

The Rebels are coming off their best season in the program's history. The 2007 squad racked up a program-best 24 wins en route to a MWC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. The 2008 edition will be led by three returning starters (Melody Nua, Jessica Walters and Erin Greenwood) and 10 letterwinners.

The season gets served up on Aug. 29-30, when UNLV travels to Tempe, Ariz., for a tournament hosted by Arizona State. The Rebels will face Dayton, ASU and South Carolina in the desert.

2008 MWC Preseason PollTeam                   Points1. Colorado State (13) 1252. Utah                953. BYU (1)             824. New Mexico          815. UNLV                636. TCU                 567. San Diego State     488. Wyoming             289. Air Force           15

2008 MWC Preseason TeamRachel Dyer:  OH, BYUMekana Barnes:  MB, CSUJaime Strauss:  OH, CSUJeanne Fairchild:  OH, UNMEmillie Toone:  MB, UUSetter:  Ashley Fornstrom, CSULibero:  Gayle Tripp, UNM

Preseason Player of the Year: Mekana Barnes, CSU