Five-time defending conference champion and NCAA Division II Pacific Region Champion Cal State San Bernardino received the maximum number of votes possible and was tabbed as the conference coaches’ unanimous pick to capture the 2011 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) title.

The Coyotes also open the season ranked third in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II national poll.

The Coyotes, winners of five straight CCAA titles and eight overall since 2001, totaled 121 points and 11 first-place votes. UC San Diego, which tied for second a year ago, finished second in the poll after collecting 100 points and one first-place vote. Sonoma State was third with 95 points, Cal State L.A. was fourth after garnering 89 points and Cal State East Bay rounded out the top five with 84 points.

Chico State (68) was picked sixth and followed by Cal State Monterey Bay and San Francisco State, which tied for seventh with 54 points each. Cal Poly Pomona (45) was ninth, Cal State Stanislaus (34) placed 10th, Humboldt State (17) finished 11th and Cal State Dominguez Hills (15) rounded out the poll.

Cal State San Bernardino is coming off a 28-2 overall record, including a 21-1 mark, in CCAA play. The Coyotes defeated Seattle Pacific in the Pacific Region final before seeing their season come to an end at the hands of Concordia-St. Paul in the NCAA Championship quarterfinals. It marked the third straight season that Cal State San Bernardino had its season ended by the Golden Bears.

Entering her 21st season at Cal State San Bernardino, head coach Kim Cherniss welcomes back 2010 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) National Player of the Year Samantha Middleborn and All-American setter Camille Smith.

The 2011 campaign is slated to begin Thursday, September 1 with a trio of tournaments. Cal State San Bernardino will host the Coyote Labor Day Classic, while Sonoma State and UC San Diego compete in the Hawaii Tournament in Honolulu, and Humboldt State hosts the Humboldt State Tournament. CCAA play is slated to commence on Friday, September 9 with a full slate of contests.
 
2011 CCAA Women’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
Rank  – School (First Place Votes) – Points – 2010 Record

1.Cal State San Bernardino (11)  121   28-2, 21-1

2.UC San Diego (1)  100  19-9, 15-7

3.Sonoma State  95  17-10, 14-8

4.Cal State L.A. 89  16-11, 13-9

5.Cal State East Bay  84  20-7, 15-7

6.Chico State  68  14-14, 9-13

T7.Cal State Monterey Bay  54  15-10, 12-10

T7.San Francisco State  54  14-13, 11-11

9. Cal Poly Pomona   45  10-17, 8-14

10. Cal State Stanislaus  34  13-14, 10-12

11. Humboldt State  17  2-24, 2-20

12. Cal State Dominguez Hills  15   3-25, 2-20

Share this

Former Cal State San Bernardino pitcher Aaron Brooks is spending his first professional season with Idaho Falls Chukars (Gotta love some of those minor league team names!) of the Rookie Pioneer League.

Brooks, a product of Cajon High School, was drafted in the ninth round by the Kansas City Royals last June, following completion of his junior year.

He is 4-1 with a 3.60 ERA in 50 innings. It’s an admirable start. Brooks has appeared in 10 games, eight of those as a starter. He has given up 54 hits with 46 strikeouts. He still has that trademark control – just five walks.

Brooks was named this week’s Pioneer League Pitcher of the Week after hurling five and two-third scoreless innings against Capser in which he gave up six hits and struck out a career-high 10.

Share this