COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – San Diego State volleyball was picked to finish in a tie for third with Boise State in the Mountain West preseason poll conducted by a vote by league head coaches. Three-time all-MW selection Deja Harris was named to the conference's seven-player preseason all-MW team.
Colorado State was picked to win the league and received 10 first place votes. Wyoming finished second in the poll and received one first place vote. SDSU and Boise State each received 75 points to finish in a tie for third, while New Mexico, San Jose State, Fresno State, Air Force, Utah State, Nevada, and UNLV rounded out the fifth place to 11th place spots, respectively.
Last season, Deja Harris became the third three-time all-MW selection in SDSU history and has an opportunity to become the first-ever four-time honoree in 2018. The Las Vegas native was the only student-athlete in the Mountain West to finish in the top seven in points per set (3.84), blocks per set (1.28) and hitting percentage (.344) in 2017. Harris' .322 career hitting percentage ranks eighth best in program history.
San Diego State finished 16-15 with a 10-8 mark in conference play last season. In addition to Harris, SDSU returns starters including junior outside hitter Hannah Turnlund, junior outside hitter Ashlynn Dunbar, and sophomore setter Gabi Peoples. SDSU's roster features 10 returners from the 2017 roster and 10 newcomers, which are split between five transfers and five true freshmen.
SDSU kicks off the 2018 campaign on Aug. 24, taking on CSU Bakersfield at 7:00 p.m. to begin the Aztec Invitational.
2018 MOUNTAIN WEST PRESEASON TEAM
Player Cl. Pos. Team
| Sabryn Roberts | Sr. | OH | Boise State |
| Kirstie Hillyer | R-Jr. | MB | Colorado State |
| Paulina Hougaard-Jensen | Jr. | MB | Colorado State |
| Katie Oleksak | Jr. | S | Colorado State |
| Breana Runnels | R-So. | OH | Colorado State |
| Deja Harris | Sr. | OH | San Diego State |
| Luiza Andrade | Sr. | L | San José State |
MW Preseason Player of the Year: Katie Oleksak, Jr., S, Colorado State
2018 MOUNTAIN WEST PRESEASON POLL
1. Colorado State (10) 100
2. Wyoming (1) 91
T3. Boise State 75
T3. San Diego State 75
5. New Mexico 59
6. San José State 56
7. Fresno State 39
T8. Air Force 31
T8. Utah State 31
10. Nevada 25
11. UNLV 23
*first place votes in parenthesis