SAN BRUNO, Calif. – For the second straight season, Pepperdine was selected as the favorite to win the West Coast Conference Women's Beach Volleyball Championship in a poll of the league coaches. The defending NCAA National Runner-Up Waves were a unanimous selection capturing all 36 points and the maximum six first-place votes. The Portland Pilots beach volleyball program was selected to finish sixth.
 
Last season, Portland recorded their first wins as a program, sweeping the Oregon Ducks with back to back 3-2 wins in the opening weekend. Their third win came during Monterey Invitational against WCC opponent San Francisco, where the Pilots won four out of the five pairs.
 
This season, the Pilots will return 1's pair sophomore Cali Thompson and senior Tani Stephens. Stephens was named to the All-WCC Beach Volleyball second team in 2017, while Thompson landed on the All-Freshman team. Senior 2's pairs Hannah Troutman and Morgan Robinson, also return this season, with Troutman having received her second All-WCC First Team honors in the fall indoor season.

The 2018 West Coast Conference Beach Volleyball Championships will be held at Ocean Beach Park in Santa Monica, California. The tournament runs April 20-21.
2018 WCC Preseason Beach Volleyball Coaches Poll
Team (First Place Vote) - Pts.
1. Pepperdine  (6) - 36
2. Saint Mary's  (1) - 30
3. Loyola Marymount  - 25
4. Pacific - 21
5. Santa Clara - 17
6. Portland - 12
7. San Francisco - 6
 
2018 All-WCC Preseason Beach Volleyball Team
Name, Institution - Yr.
Emily Bible, Saint Mary's - Jr.
Skylar Caputo, Pepperdine - Jr.
Heidi Dyer, Pepperdine - Jr.
Lindsey Knudsen, Saint Mary's - Jr.
Jessie Prichard, Loyola Marymount - So.
Corinne Quiggle, Pepperdine - Sr.
Madalyn Roh, Pepperdine - Jr.
Payton Rund, Saint Mary's - Jr.
Andie Shelton, Pacific - Sr.
Savannah Slattery, Loyola Marymount - So.