MPSF coaches poll

Dec. 7, 2011

STANFORD, Calif. - The Stanford men's volleyball team has been predicted to finish third in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in a survey of conference coaches released Wednesday.

The Cardinal, which finished third last season in the nation's toughest conference, received one first-place vote. BYU was the coaches' choice and UC Irvine was second.

Stanford (19-9 overall in 2011, 15-7 in the MPSF) returns two first-team All-Americans - outside hitter Brad Lawson and libero Erik Shoji - and six of its seven starters, including three from the Cardinal's 2010 national championship team.

Senior middle blocker Gus Ellis, entering his third season as a full-time starter, and senior setter Evan Barry are among the veterans. And Eric Mochalski, the school season record-holder in hitting percentage, returns for his sophomore season.

Lawson was the 2010 MPSF Player of the Year and Shoji, Stanford's career digs leader, has a chance to be Stanford's first four-time first-team All-America.

In addition, sophomores Mochalski, Brian Cook, and Steve Irvin played on the United States junior national team that finished fourth at the World Championships in Brazil over the summer.

Stanford's sixth-year coach John Kosty fully expects the Cardinal to be in the hunt for a national title with a veteran roster that includes seven seniors.

Stanford opens its season with a pair of home exhibitions against Canada's Thompson Rivers, on Jan. 6-7, and opens its season officially on Jan. 11 at Pacific. The Cardinal's official home opener is Jan. 13 against Juniata at Maples Pavilion.

The following is the MPSF coaches' predicted order of finish:

1. BYU (6 first-place votes)
2. UC Irvine (4)
3. Stanford (1)
4. UCLA (1)
5. USC
6t. Cal State Northridge
6t. Long Beach State
8. Pepperdine
9. Hawaii
10. UC Santa Barbara
11. Pacific
12. UC San Diego