SAN BRUNO, Calif. - After advancing to the NCAA Championship for the third time in four seasons in 2016, No. 18 Gonzaga University has been selected to win the 2017 West Coast Conference women's rowing championship in a preseason poll of the league's seven head coaches. The defending WCC Champion Bulldogs earned 36 points and the maximum six first place votes, while the University of San Diego followed with 31 points and the remaining first place vote for the second place spot.

The Zags are pursuing their third-straight West Coast Conference Championship and 16th overall. Since 1997 the Zags have won 15 of the 20 WCC Championships. The Zags finished last season ranked No. 17 in the final CRCA/US Rowing Coaches Poll after finishing a program-best 16th at the 2016 NCAA Championships.

GU was picked first in the preseason poll a season ago as well, picked second in 2015 and 2012, and selected in first place in 2014 and 2013.

Loyola Marymount University collected 23 points for third place in the preseason poll, while the University of Portland landed in the fourth spot with 22 votes. Saint Mary's (16 points), Santa Clara University (10 points), and Creighton University (7 points) rounded out the poll.

"We are flattered to be seen as the team to beat by the coaches of the WCC, but we know there are several strong teams in the conference who are working as hard as we are to win the title," Gonzaga head coach Glenn Putyrae said. "There will be a lot of racing between now and the WCC Championships, and we will continue to do what we can to earn the top spot."

All seven WCC rowing teams are represented on the preseason All-West Coast Conference team, led by Gonzaga with four selections, San Diego with three, and the remaining five schools with two apiece.

Representing GU are seniors Micailah Donner, Olivia Marsh, and Meghan McCallum, along with junior Isabelle Belzil. This marks the first preseason nod for all four Zags.

All four have rowed in the varsity eight boat the last two seasons. Marsh and McCallum were in the Gonzaga varsity eight boat that won the WCC Championship last season and finished 14th at the NCAA Championships. Donner and Belzil rowed in the second varsity eight boat that finished second in the WCC Championships and 16th at the NCAA Championships.

GU officially kicks off the spring season this Saturday in Pullman, Wash. against WSU in the annual Fawley Cup.

2017 WCC Preseason Rowing Coaches Poll

2017 All-WCC Preseason Rowing Team