SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Senior outside hitter
Sarah Penner was named to the All-WCC Preseason Team that was released by the conference Wednesday afternoon. Gonzaga was selected to finish eighth in the West Coast Conference Volleyball Preseason Poll that is voted on by the leagues 10 head coaches.
Penner, who returns for her final season with Gonzaga, is a three-time All-WCC honoree as the Sherwood, Ore., native was selected All-WCC Honorable Mention each of the last two seasons while being named to the WCC's All-Freshman team following her rookie season in 2017.
Penner has led the Zags in kills, attacks and points each of the last three seasons. Last year, the senior outside hitter finished with 288 kills for a 2.80 per set average, 858 total attempts and 360.0 points. She added 190 digs on the year with 31 service aces and 71 total blocks.
In 2019, Penner finished in double-figure kills 17 times on the season with a season-high 19 coming against Nevada on Sept. 20. She reached double-figure digs six times on the year with a career-high 27 coming at San Francisco on Oct. 19; she also recorded a double-double in kills and digs five times on the season.
In the team preseason poll, defending WCC champion San Diego was picked to win the 2020-21 Spring WCC Championship, followed by BYU, Pepperdine, Santa Clara and Loyola Marymount in the top five. Saint Mary's was selected sixth with 41 points, followed by Pacific (27 points), Gonzaga (27 points), San Francisco (18 points) and Portland (13 points).
Gonzaga kicks off the 2020-21 spring season this Sunday, Jan. 24 at home against visiting #23 San Diego. The match is set to begin at 12 p.m. inside the Martin Centre. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, fans are not allowed to attend Gonzaga home matches at this time. However, fans are encouraged to watch the match live
here. Check GoZags.com for up-to-date match time information.
| 2020-21 WCC Preseason Volleyball Coaches Poll |
| Team (First Place Votes) |
Points |
| San Diego (7) |
78 |
| BYU (1) |
72 |
| Pepperdine (2) |
69 |
| Santa Clara |
55 |
| Loyola Marymount |
50 |
| Saint Mary's |
41 |
| Pacific |
27 |
| Gonzaga |
27 |
| San Francisco |
18 |
| Portland |
13 |
| 2020-21 All-WCC Preseason Volleyball Team |
| Name |
Institution |
Yr. |
Pos |
| Rachel Ahrens |
Pepperdine |
Jr. |
OPP |
| Elena Baka |
Saint Mary's |
So. |
OH |
| Taylen Ballard-Nixon |
BYU |
Sr. |
OH |
| Annie Benbow |
San Diego |
Jr. |
LIB |
| Rose Booth |
Loyola Marymount |
So. |
OH |
| Whitney Bower |
BYU |
So. |
S |
| Kennedy Eschenberg |
BYU |
Sr. |
MB |
| Thana Fayad |
San Diego |
Gr. |
OH |
| Grace Frohling |
San Diego |
So. |
OPP |
| Katie Lukes |
San Diego |
Jr. |
OH |
| Riley Patterson |
Pacific |
Jr. |
OH |
| Sarah Penner |
Gonzaga |
Sr. |
OH/RS |
| Julia Sangiacomo |
Santa Clara |
So. |
OH |
| Shannon Scully |
Pepperdine |
Sr. |
OH |
| Emme Walters |
Loyola Marymount |
So. |
MB |
| Isabel Zelaya |
Pepperdine |
So. |
S |
