The "10 Days Until Gonzaga Basketball" Zag Tracks

-- Expectations for the Zags have never been higher and this article by Spokane's KXLY shows how the players and staff are dealing with the pressure of being a top team

-- TKR's obsession with recruiting will never fade but recent news of Devonte Elliott's commitment to Nevada has shaken us quite a bit. It appears that Daequon Montreal (right in yellow) has to be priority number one. The junior college star from College of Southern Idaho begins the year banged up as he is recovering from a torn ligament.

-- In an interesting side story, it appears that recently expelled freshman Nate Miles has landed at College of Southern Idaho. CSI has done an excellent job with grooming youngsters into NCAA Division 1 players and hopefully Miles is able to take advantage of this and get back into the spotlight.

-- Heading to the west side of the state, it seems that Seattle University's contract with Key Arena is about to be finalized. Seattle U will be competing in Division 1 basketball again next season and will call Key Arena home. This article also mentions that Gonzaga and Seattle U are talks about a possible match up in the future. At least one team from the West side will play us.

--Speaking of Seattle University, the Women's Volleyball team will be taking on Seattle University tonight at 7 P.M. The ladies are struggling with a 6-16 record and look to end a seven game losing streak. It's a home game so get out there and support the ladies.

-- The number of Zags in the NBA is dwindling. After signing with the Golden State Warriors, Dan Dickau has been waived and is back on the open market.

-- Adam Morrison seems to be improving in the NBA during the preseason. After a knee injury sidelined the former Gonzaga great, there were questions as to whether Morrison would fade from the public eye. Hopefully he can keep it going and continue his good play.

Volleyball Cruises to Victory

After a difficult opening day performance in the University of Pittsburgh Tournament, the Bulldogs rebounded with a 3-0 win over the Eastern Michigan Eagles. The match, which began at 8:00 AM this morning, saw GU sweep aside the Eagles, with scores of 25-15, 25-23, 25-17. While this win will not erase the memories of yesterday, it should provide the ladies with some momentum heading into conference play.

What made this performance so impressive was the fact that it was a true team performance for the Bulldogs. The trio of Emily Johnson, Layne Brosky, and Elaina Renius recorded eight kills each, while Michelle Boevers led the team with ten kills. The efficiency of Boevers and Brosky was equally impressive, as each had an attack percentage above .400. Allyson Powell led the team defensively, as she had a team-high ten digs, as well as two service aces.

It's amazing to think how different this weekend could have been for the GU women's volleyball team. Instead of talking about a weekend that saw them go 1-2, we could be praising them for winning the University of Pittsburgh Tournament. I know that the girls realize how much potential this team has, and it is up to them to maximize it. If they can figure out how to become consistent for the duration of the match, this team could really surprise during WCC play.

Volleyball Drops Two Heartbreakers

It's safe to say that the GU women's volleyball team has seen its share of tough losses this season. However, nothing could have prepared the team for the heartbreaking day they would have today. After flying across the country yesterday, the Bulldogs dropped back-to-back 3-2 decisions in the opening day of the University of Pittsburgh Tournament. What makes these losses so harsh is that GU had opportunities to win both of the matches.

The Bulldogs opened the day by going up against the University of Pittsburgh Panthers. This match served as a great opportunity for the team to demonstrate the improvements they had made against a team from the Big East. It was a classic back and forth battle, that saw the Panthers emerge 3-2, with scores of 24-26, 25-13, 19-25, 25-19, 15-8. What makes this loss so frustrating is the inconsistency that the team demonstrated throughout the match. After a great performance in set #1, the Bulldogs fell behind 8-1 in the second set, and gave themselves no chance of going up 2-0. It was the same story in sets # 3 and 4, as the Bulldogs played great volleyball in set # 3, and cruised to a 25-19 win. However, they fell behind early in set # 4, were never able to cut into the Panthers lead, as they lost the set 25-19. For this team to reach the highest level they are capable of, consistency is a must. The team was led by terrific performances from Elaina Renius and Michelle Boevers, who had 14 and 11 kills for the match.

The second match of the day saw much of the same for the Bulldogs, as they fell in similar fashion to the VCU Rams. The similarities between the two matches were eerie, as the Bulldogs fell 3-2, with scores of 24-26, 25-22, 25-15, 16-25, 15-4. This match saw both the good and the bad from the team, as they were dominant at times, but also error prone throughout. These errors killed the ladies in the 5th set, when they committed four straight errors to begin the set. They could not recover from the 4-0 deficit, and seemed deflated throughout the remainder of the final set. The trio of Elania Renius, Michelle Boevers, and Layne Brosky led the team throughout the match. All three recorded double-digit kills for the match, with Renius recording a team-high 17. Denise Van De Mortel was impressive, as she had 20 digs to go along with her 54 assists.

The Bulldogs will return to action tomorrow morning against the Eastern Michigan Eagles. It is vital that they secure a positive result, as they do not want to enter WCC play on a three game losing streak. It is clear that this team has the talent to succeed, but it must find consistency if it is going to reach the significant potential it has.

Volleyball Arrives in the Steel City

After departing Spokane before sunrise, the GU women's volleyball team has arrived in Pittsburgh for the University of Pittsburgh Tournament. This will be the longest road trip of the season for the team, and they will be hoping to carry their recent form of play into the tournament. They are coming off a dramatic victory over the University of Idaho last night, as the Bulldogs came out with a 3-2 win.

The tournament will get started tomorrow morning, as the ladies will take the court at 10:00 AM pacific time. The University of Pittsburgh will be their first opponent, and it is a match that the Zags can certainly win. The Panthers come into the game with a 3-7 record that has seen them drop their past five matches. Last weekend, the Panthers participated in the Loyola Marymount Tournament and came away winless. Pittsburgh is led by Kelly Campbell, who is averaging 2.80 kills per set. This will be the first matchup between the two teams, and a win could set the tone for a terrific tournament.

It will be a short break for the team, as they return to the court at 2:00 PM on Friday. Their opponent for this match will be the VCU Rams. The Rams enter the match with a 5-4 record, and are currently on a two-match winning streak. They recently participated in the UVA tournament, where they defeated Appalachian St. and Binghamton. Ariel Newman and Elisa Kuehnel lead the Rams, as both average over 2.40 kills per set. If the ladies can pull out victory in this match, they will likely be playing for the tournament championship on Saturday.

Playing on the East Coast should be an interesting experience for the Zags. It is important that they build on their recent solid play, which has seen the team win 3 of their last 4 matches. After this tournament, the Bulldogs will be entering WCC play, so it is vital that they get some momentum heading into conference play.

Volleyball Wins Thriller

In front of a terrific crowd at The Kennel, the volleyball team won a 3-2 thriller over the University of Idaho. It was a back and forth battle that produced one of the most exciting volleyball games TKR has ever witnessed, with scores of 25-23, 13-25, 25-19, 21-25, 15-11 . This was an important game for the team to win, as they will be heading across the country tomorrow morning for the University of Pittsburgh tournament. The win improves the Bulldogs record to 5-7, while the Vandals fell to 7-5.

After such a terrific team performance, it is hard to choose any individuals that really dominated the game for the Lady Zags. However, this win would not have been possible without the junior duo of Layne Brosky and Emily Johnson. Both girls had double-digit kills for the match, with Johnson recording 13, and Brosky with 12. The powerful Brosky intimidated the Vandals with her kills, and Johnson displayed tremendous consistency from start to finish. Denise Van De Mortel continued her great play at setter, as she recorded 53 assists and 14 digs. Van De Mortel seems to be developing into a consistent double-double threat, and plays very mature for a freshman.

The ladies cannot spend too much time celebrating, as they must get ready for a huge tournament this weekend. It is important that they use this victory as motivation, as a strong performance at the University of Pittsburgh could set the tone for a successful conference season.

Volleyball to Host the Vandals

After a strong performance in the Gonzaga University Tournament, the volleyball team will close out their 4-game homestand against the University of Idaho. It has been a tough start to the season for the Bulldogs, but they showed some signs of improvement last weekend, when they went 2-1. Their solid play in the Gonzaga Univeristy Tournament improved their record to 4-7. Following the match, the ladies will travel to the University of Pittsburgh, for their longest road-trip of the year.

The great play of Elaina Renius and Denise Van De Mortel has been a constant for the Bulldogs this season. Both were named to the All- Tournament team this past weekend, and for Van De Mortel, it marked the second straight tournament that she had been named to the All-Tournament team. The trio of Layne Brosky, Caitlin Cozad, and Emily Johnson were terrific as well, as all three recorded double-digit kills during the tournament.

The University of Idaho comes into the match boasting an impressive 7-3 record. The Vandals posted a 2-2 record this past weekend, when they competed in the Portland State Volleyball Classic. After dropping their first two matches, they were able to recover, and defeat UC Riverside and Portland State in their final two matches. Haley Larsen leads Idaho, as she averages an impressive 4.46 kills per set.

The last two meetings between these teams have seen GU came out with the victory, and the ladies will certainly be looking to make it three in a row. This weekend will see the Lady Zags competing in the University of Pittsburgh tournament. They will go up against the University of Pittsburgh and VCU on Friday, and Eastern Michigan on Saturday. This is an important stretch of games, as the team will be looking to get on the right track prior to beginning their conference schedule. The WCC will be one of the top conferences in the country, so the ladies will need to be at their best for conference play.

Volleyball Drops Finale

In a tense match up, between two very even teams, the women's volleyball team fell to Weber State in the Gonzaga Volleyball Tournament finale. It took four sets to separate the two teams, as GU lost 3-1, with scores of 20-25, 21-25, 25-23, 24-26. The ladies went 2-1 in the tournament, and their record now stands at 4-7.

It was the usual faces leading GU, as both Elaina Renius and Denise Van De Mortel were name to the All-Tournament team. Against Weber State, Renius led the team with 18 kills, while Van De Mortel recorded 44 assists and 12 digs. This marks the third double-double of the season for the freshman setter. Van De Mortel has now made the All-Tournament team at the past two tournaments that she has participated in.

This week will see the team travel to Pittsburgh, where they will participate in the University of Pittsburgh Tournament. Before they leave, the ladies will host the University of Idaho on Wednesday night at 7:00 PM. This week will be the last chance for the Bulldogs to warm up for WCC play, as that begins in early October.

Volleyball Undefeated in Tournament

It seems that all the Gonzaga women's volleyball team needed was some home court advantage. After a difficult 2-6 start on the road, the Bulldogs were able to earn their second consecutive win on their home court. Behind terrific performances from Denise Van De Mortel and Elaina Renius, the ladies defeated San Diego State 3-1, with scores of 25-19, 23-25, 29-27, 25-18. With the victory, GU improves to 4-6 this season.

Denise Van De Mortel continued her incredible play this season, as she earned the Bulldogs Player of the Match. Van De Mortel dished out 52 assists, and added 5 digs as well, as the team had 63 total kills. At the net, it was the play of Elaina Renius and Layne Brosky that led the team to victory. Both girls turned in terrific offensive performances, as Renius led the team with fifteen kills, while Brosky added twelve.

At 7:00 PM tonight, the Bulldogs will be looking to complete a perfect tournament, when they take on the Weber State Wildcats. Both teams are undefeated thus far in the tournament, and the winner will be able to claim the Gonzaga Volleyball Tournament championship. It should be a terrific match, and hopefully the team can continue their terrific play at The Kennel.

Wrapping Up a Great Day for Gonzaga Athletics

It was a busy day for Gonzaga athletics. The men's and women's soccer team were in action as well as the women's volleyball team. The Gonzaga women's soccer team was able to pull out a victory today against Montana and the other two teams were able to pull out similar results. Today was a clean sweep for the Gonzaga Bulldogs and each performance was equally impressive.

-- The men's soccer team was able to get off the schneid as they gained their first victory of the season. The guys were able to knock off the host UNLV Rebels 2-1 in the first round of the UNLV Nike Invitational. The win came in surprising fashion with redshirt freshman Zach Smith coming off the bench to score both goals for Gonzaga. The Zags, now 1-1-1 on the year, held a shutout until the 88th minute when UNLV finally beat goalkeeper Scott Barnum. Barnum frustrated the Rebels, now 3-2-0, making three big saves to give the Bulldogs their first victory.

The win means that Gonzaga will be playing for the championship of the UNLV Nike Invitational tomorrow at 3 P.M. They will take on UC Riverside who defeated Oral Roberts University 3-1 in the opening game. UC Riverside is 1-4 on the season. Good luck to the Zags, bring home the title!

--Finishing off the evening for Gonzaga was the women's volleyball team and they had the most dominant performance of the day. The Zags took on UTEP in their first match of the Gonzaga Volleyball Tournament and they took control very early on. The ladies, now 3-6 on the year, easily swept UTEP 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-20).

It was the first home game of the season for the women and they did not disappoint the nearly capacity crowd on hand. Some familiar faces led the Bulldogs this evening in their rout of the Miners. Elaina Reinus had 13 kills and five digs and continued on her oustanding play throughout the year. Freshman Denise Van de Mortel played like a senior once again as she had 32 assists to go along with her eight digs.

The freshman/senior combination of Van de Mortel and Reinus has been very impressive this season and they have led the Zags in each of their three wins. The Gonzaga Volleyball Tournament will come to a close tomorrow as the ladies will be playing two matches as they take on San Diego State at 1 P.M. and Weber State University at 7 P.M.

We were able to snap a few shots of the ladies volleyball team...

Volleyball to host Gonzaga Volleyball Tournament

After a heartbreaking loss at the hands of Washington State University, the volleyball team will seek some home court advantage this weekend when they host the Gonzaga Volleyball Tournament. The tournament will be the home debut for the volleyball team this season, and it should provide the team with an excellent chance to improve on their 2-6 record.

Joining the Bulldogs in the Gonzaga Volleyball Tournament will be, UTEP, San Diego State, and Weber State. The first opponent for the Lady Zags is the UTEP Miners. The Miners enter the tournament with a 2-5 record, after going 1-2 in the Doublewood Inn Classic this past weekend. The Miners are led by the attacking duo of Catherine Chavez and Amy Sanders. Both girls average over 3.00 kills per set, and are the focal point of the Miners offense.

For the Bulldogs to be successful, they must continue to get terrific play from Layne Brosky and Elaina Renius. Both girls were tremendous against Washington State, and need to build on their great play throughout the tournament. One girl who has been consistently excellent this season is freshman setter Denise Van De Mortel. Against WSU, Van De Mortel recorded the first double-double of her career, when she recorded 65 assists and 18 kills.

The Lady Zags will begin the tournament at 7:00 PM on Friday night. This will be the first chance for GU students to see the volleyball team this season, and TKR would love for all the fans to join us at the game on Friday night. They will return to action on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 PM, when the San Diego State Aztecs will be the opponent. Finally, the tournament will conclude Saturday night, when the ladies will be looking for a win against the Weber State University Wildcats.

Cougs Outlast Lady Zags in Pullman

Whenever Gonzaga plays Washington State, there is sure to be fireworks. Things were no different tonight as the Lady Zags volleyball team traveled to Pullman to face off with the Cougs.

The Zags came out on fire as they won both of the first two sets 25-19 and appeared to be poised for a quick victory. Elaina Renius (left) had an amazing five kills in the first set and finished with a whopping 22 total kills. Junior Layne Brosky also had an excellent night attacking the net. She matched Reinus' first set total of five kills and finished with 15 total kills. The other consistent bright spot for the Zags has been freshman setter Denise Van de Mortel who finished with 65 assists and 18 digs for her first career double-double.

The Lady Cougs won the third set 25-22 despite a valiant effort by Reinus. The fourth set was the true heart breaker for the ladies from Spokane. The ladies came out hot and established a 5-2 lead only to have Wazzu come right back and take an 11-6 lead. The Cougars kept that lead as the Zags desperately tried to claw back but their efforts were not enough. The Zags dropped the set 28-26.

Washington State was able to continue their momentum and take it to the Zags in the fifth set as they won in convincing fashion 15-8.

The Lady Zags return to the court this coming Friday and Saturday. They will be back in Spokane hosting the Gonzaga Volleyball Tournament. The Bulldogs will first clash with the University of Texas-El Paso on Friday at 7 p.m.

Volleyball gets ready for Washington State

After a decent performance at the Northwest Invitational tournament, the Lady Zags will head to Pullman to take on the Washington State Cougars. After a 1-2 performance last weekend, the Lady Zags record currently stands at 2-5. They will take the court tomorrow night at 7:00 P.M, in the final game before the Gonzaga Volleyball Tournament this weekend.

The Cougars currently hold a 3-3 record, but are on a three game losing streak. The Cougars played in the University of Idaho tournament this past weekend, where they went 0-3. Despite a 1-2 record last weekend, the Lady Zags did have some star performances. Paige Dillingham produced the highest dig total for a GU player in a single match since 2004, when she had 26 digs against Boise State. In the same match, Elaina Renius produced a career-high 12 blocks, which was the highest total by any Gonzaga player since 2005. However, it was Denise Van De Mortel who stole the show, as she garnered All-Tournament honors.

Starting on Friday, the Lady Zags will play their first home matches of the season, when they host the Gonzaga Volleyball Tournament. In what will certainly be a challenging tournament, the Lady Zags will be taking on UTEP, San Diego State, Weber State. TKR would love to see the some support for the Lady Zags, so be sure to try and make it to the gym this weekend.

Volleyball defeated by Portland State

After a tough match last night against the University of Washington, the volleyball team began today knowing that they had a chance to defeat both of their opponents. However, in their second match of the Northwest Challenge at the University of Washington, the Lady Zags fell to the Portland State Vikings. The Lady Zags were swept by the Vikings 3-0, with scores of 25-21, 25-18, 25-19. This loss drops the Lady Zags record to 1-5, while Portland State improved to 4-1.

The Lady Zags began the match brilliantly, as they jumped ahead 13-8 in the 1st set. However, the Lady Zags could not maintain the momentum they had built, and were able to take control with two 5-0 runs towards the end of the set. The second set was all Vikings, as they jumped out to a 4-1 lead, and led throughout the set. Much like the 1st set, the Lady Zags began the 3rd set on fire. They jumped out to a 16-8 lead, and it seemed that this match would head to a 4th set. However, the Vikings reeled off 10 straight points during a brilliant rally, and held on to win the final set.

In defeat, the Lady Zags got great offensive performance from the trio of Emily Johnson, Michelle Boevers, and Elaina Renius. The Lady Zags will play their final game of the Northwest Challenge at 5:00 PM tonight. They will be going up against the Boise State Broncos, and hopefully the girls can close out the tournament with a much-needed win.

Volleyball falls to University of Washington

Earlier tonight, the volleyball team fell in the opening game of the University of Washington tournament. Going up against the 9th ranked University of Washington Huskies, the Lady Zags needed to play nearly perfect to have a chance for the upset. However, the Lady Zags could not put it together, and they fell 3-0, with scores of 25-10, 25-14, 25-16, to one of the best teams in the country. This loss drops the Lady Zags to 1-4 this season.

In defeat, the Lady Zags were led by terrific offensive performances from Emily Johnson and Michelle Boevers. Both registered six kills during the game, and did an excellent job of limiting their errors. Denise Van De Mortel continued her solid play with 19 assists and six digs on the defensive end. The Lady Zags received a solid defensive display from Laura Day, as she had six digs to go along with only one returning error.

The Lady Zags return to the court tomorrow, when they will take on both Boise State University and Portland State University. If they can take the positives from the performance tonight, the Lady Zags should have an excellent chance to win both matches tomorrow.

Women's Volleyball Heads West to face the Northwest's Best

The lady Zags volleyball team took the bus west today as they head to Seattle for the Northwest Challenge. The host team is the perennial powerhouse Washington Huskies. The Zags will also face stiff competition Boise State and Portland State.

The lady Zags currently stand at 1-3 on the season but hope to build on that record this week. The bulldogs will play a game on Thursday and two games on Friday before returning to Spokane.

Thursday, September 4th
Gonzaga v. Washington @ 7 P.M.

Friday, September 5th
Gonzaga v. Portland State (2-1) @ 1 PM
Gonzaga v. Boise State (0-3) @ 5 PM

This is a very exciting tournament for the Zags for a number of reasons. Many team members are Seattle natives and it will be exciting for them to play in front of friends and family. It is also very nice to have each team hailing from the Pacific Northwest. The Zags will be traveling the country this year as they head to Pennsylvania for a tournament later in the year.

There is no doubt that the University of Washington is the favorite in this tournament but with a talented freshmen class, it is possible that the Zags could knock them off. Hopefully coach Kip Yoshimura can rally the troops to get them to represent Spokane and Gonzaga University well. The Zags would be ecstatic to come out of this tournament with victories against Boise State and Portland State and a good showing against UW would be a cherry on top.

Also, we hope you noticed our new calendar on TKR. Keep checking in to find Gonzaga games near you so you can head out and support the Bulldogs.

Hopefully all you Zag fans in Western Washington will get out to UW and support the ladies team as they hope to build on their fantastic season last year. Good luck ladies.

Weekend Wrap

Today brought the end to an exciting and event filled week for GU athletics. TKR had some technical issues yesterday, so we will be doing a wrap-up to the sporting events from the weekend.

- The volleyball team finished off the Montana Invitational with a 1-3 record, as they lost both matches on Saturday. In the first match against North Dakota State, the Zags began with a spectacular first two sets, winning 25-22 and 25-13. However, the Zags could not keep up the performance and dropped the last three sets. The 3-2 loss was certainly disappointing for the Zags, as they had played so well early on in the match. In the final game of the tournament, the Zags were swept by UC Riverside. The Highlanders won with scores of 25-17, 25-20, 25-22. This was a difficult conclusion to the tournament for the Lady Zags, as they played well at times, but erratic throughout most of the tournament. Hopefully the Lady Zags can recover, as they will be traveling to Seattle for a tournament hosted by the University of Washington next week.

- The women's soccer team returned home today to host the University of Washington. The Lady Zags had won two straight matches, but today they could not overcome an 80th minute goal by the Huskies, as they fell 2-1. The Zags jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 39th minute, when Katie Spangenberg was able to score off a corner kick for her 1st goal in a Gonzaga uniform. However, two-second half goals from the Huskies sent the Zags to a tough 2-1 loss. The Lady Zags will be off until next Sunday, when they will host Cal State University Bakersfield.

Volleyball falls to Montana

It was a tale of two matches today for the GU volleyball team. Coming off of a terrific performance in their season opener, the Lady Zags could not match their performance from earlier today, as they fell to the University of Montana. The Lady Zags played hard, but could not match the Grizzlies, who won the match 3-1, with scores of 25-14, 18-25, 25-20, 25-18.

The Lady Zags were not able to match their terrific attacking performance from the earlier match. However, Elaina Renius, Emily Johnson, and Caitlin Cozad were able to put together strong performances. These 3 were able to produce at least 9 kills each during the match, with Renius leading the way with 16 kills. Denise Van De Mortel continued to impress, as she was able to record 37 assists. The Lady Zags could not overcome numerous errors throughout the match, and it was the Lady Grizzlies who wer able to come out with the solid win.

The Montana Invitational will continue tomorrow, and the Lady Zags will take on both UC Riverside and North Dakota St. Although they will not be happy with the performance tonight, this is a resilient squad, and GU fans should expect a solid performance tomorrow.

Volleyball dominates season opener

The women's volleyball team kicked off its season in impressive fashion, by dominating their opening game at the Montana Invitational tournament. The Lady Zags defeated the Bradley Braves 3-0, with scores of 25-18,25-16, 25-17. This is a fantastic start to the season for the volleyball team, and hopefully they can continue it later tonight when they take on the host team.

The Lady Zags were led offensively by strong performances from Elaina Renius, Layne Brosky, and Caitlin Cozad. All three had eight or more kills, with Renius leading the way with a game high 12 kills. Denise Van De Mortel had a terrific debut at setter for the Zags, as she dished out a game high 35 assists.

The girls return to action tonight at 7:00, when they will be taking on the University of Montana. This should be more of a challenge for the Zags, but if they keep up this great play, then they should have an excellent chance at the win. TKR wishes the girls the best of luck, and hopefully then can string together back-to-back brilliant performances.

Women's volleyball heading to Montana

Last season provided quite a resurgence for a what had been a struggling volleyball program. After a couple of tough seasons, the Lady Zags were able to go 17-13 last season, with a 5-9 record in conference play. The Lady Zags will be looking to build on their great performance last season, and will be kicking off their season by participating in a tournament hosted by the University of Montana.

The tournament will feature the University of Montana, Gonzaga University, Bradley University, North Dakota State, and UC Riverside. The Lady Zags will be kicking off the tournament on Friday, when they will take on Bradley University. The Braves are coming off a tough season, in which they finished the season with a 3-28 record. They do return four starters from last years squad, and will certainly be hoping for a more successful season. On Friday night, the Lady Zags will take on the University of Montana. The Grizzlies put together a 10-16 season last year, but do return five starters and should be vastly improved. Last year, the Lady Zags defeated the University of Montana on two separate occasions, marking their 1st victories over the Grizzlies since 2003.

The tournament will continue on Saturday, and TKR will bring you a preview tomorrow after the Lady Zags finish up their two games. TKR would like to wish the Lady Zags great luck as they kick off their season, and TKR really believes they can put together another terrific season.

Women's Volleyball picked 7th

Following a terrific season that saw the Lady Zags go 17-13 overall, the WCC coaches have picked the Zags to finish 7th in the WCC. The Zags lost 4 seniors from last years team, but they do return 3 starters and 9 letterwinners from this past season. USD was picked to finish 1st in the conference, narrowly beating out Pepperdine and Santa Clara. After the great progress that the Zags made last year, hopefully the girls can prove the WCC coaches wrong and put together another terrific season.

Here is the poll, with 1st place votes in parentheses......St. Mary's and USF were tied for 4th in the poll

1) USD- 56 (3)
2) Pepperdine- 55 (3)
3) Santa Clara- 53 (1)
4) St. Mary's- 34 (1)
4) USF- 34
6) LMU- 29 (1)
7) Gonzaga- 18
8) Porland- 9