STOCKTON, Calif. – With just nine days remaining until the start of the 2025 season, the West Coast Conference released its annual preseason poll Wednesday morning and ranked the Pacific volleyball program seventh.

Despite being picked seventh, the Tigers have only ever finished seventh twice in the eleven full seasons (Covid shortened season excluded) Head Coach Greg Gibbons has guided the team through the WCC and has never finished below seventh in the conference.

"I think with the release of the preseason poll that has put us closer to competing as the team is coming together, working extremely hard and excited about playing somebody else," Gibbons said.

"I look at the poll as we are getting closer to the season and continuing to grow and compete together against good teams in a tough contest."

The Tigers enter the season returning just three from last season's roster and with 15 new faces to the program. Led by senior Jayhlin Swain and sophomore Aly Cox as returners, Swain put together a memorable first season wearing the orange and black, tallying 524 digs – good for the second most in a single season in program history. Meanwhile, Cox is the returning kills leader after playing 50 sets and 19 matches in her freshman campaign.

Pacific will also have the services of senior Logan Blutreich, who missed last season due to injury. In her 2023 season, she was second on the team in blocks per set and sixth on the squad with 79 kills.

Of the 15 new faces, four come to Stockton by way of the transfer portal in graduates Valentina Varani from Coastal Carolina and Olivia Keller from Fresno State, sophomore Olga Gergacz from American University and redshirt freshman Mila Stojakovic from Pepperdine.

A standout playing in the middle, Varani led Coastal Carolina with 117 blocks in the 2023 season while Keller brings power from the outside tallying a career-best 135 kills during the 2022 season.

The Tigers open their season next Friday in Northridge, Calif. at The Ridge Invitational against Cal Baptist at 2 pm. Pacific will also face host CSUN and Idaho State during the weekend long invitational. Pacific's first home match is October 2 against LMU at 6 pm.

The full WCC release can be found on the conference's website

Tigers Tickets
Tickets for upcoming events can be purchased through the PacificTigers.com tickets tab, or by calling the Box Office at 209-946-2474.  Groups of 10 or more are eligible for a group discount and exclusive fan experiences.
 
Stay Social
For all the latest on Pacific Volleyball, be sure to follow the team on X (@PacificVball), Instagram (@pacificvolleyball) and Facebook page (Pacific Volleyball).

#PacificProud