Opposing Pac-10 Coaches Hold Little Hope For WSU

Washington State new women’s basketball coach Jenny Przekwas got her first indication of what the Pacific-10 Conference coaches think of the team she inherited.

In the preseason coaches’ poll released Thursday, the Cougars were picked to finish 10th. WSU was picked to place eighth last year and did just that, finishing 11-16 overall, 5-13 in the Pac-10.

UCLA, meanwhile, returns all five starters from last year’s NCAA Tournament team and was picked to win the conference. The Bruins won a share of its first conference title last year, tying with Oregon at 15-3.

UCLA earned eight first-place votes and Oregon earned two. Stanford was picked to finish third, followed by Arizona, Arizona State, Washington, USC, Oregon State, California and Washington State.

Men’s tennis

The University of Idaho doubles team of senior Darin Currall and junior Arnod Wakalkar advanced to the round of 16 at the Reebok ITA National Hardcourts at Austin, Texas. They defeated South Carolina’s Olof Akesson and Guillaume Legat 6-7 (8-6), 6-3, 6-1.

Women’s soccer

Idaho State shut out Eastern Washington 4-0 in a Big Sky Conference game in Pocatello, Idaho.

Eastern’s Eagles got off only four shots to ISU’s 19 in falling to 0-3 in the conference and 1-11 overall. ISU is 6-7-1 and 1-1.

EWU competes at Weber State on Saturday before playing host to Gonzaga at 2 p.m. Monday.

Golf

Mark Gardner (The Creek at Qualchan) shot an opening-round 75 and trails by eight strokes at the Western PGA Club Professional Championship at Santa Ana Golf Club in Bernalillo, N.M. The tournament runs through Sunday.