Fast Break
Men’s basketball
Cougars picked to finish sixth
After tying for third in the Pacific-10 Conference last season, Washington State University has been chosen to finish sixth in the league, according to a poll of media members.
“I believe the league will be sneaky good,” WSU coach Tony Bennett said. “Even though some marquee players have left, there are still some excellent returners and exciting newcomers.”
The poll, released Thursday at the league’s annual media day in Los Angeles, had UCLA finishing first with 37 of the 38 first-place votes and 379 points.
Arizona State received the only other first-place vote, coming in second with 325 points. USC, Arizona and Washington rounded out the top five. Oregon was picked seventh followed by California, Stanford and Oregon State.
Washington State returns five letterwinners from last season’s 26-9 squad, which reached the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history. Senior guard Taylor Rochestie was scheduled to appear at the media day, but didn’t make the trip due to an injury suffered in practice on Wednesday. Rochestie suffered a bruised shin in scrimmage and underwent an MRI. The results were negative and he is expected to return to practice next week.
Before opening the season Nov. 15 at home against Mississippi Valley State, Washington State will host Lewis-Clark State in an exhibition game Nov. 10 at Friel Court.
Men’s basketball
Gonzaga No. 11 in coaches’ poll
Gonzaga landed at No. 11 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ preseason poll, which has North Carolina at No. 1
Gonzaga opponents also in the poll are No. 2 Connecticut, No. 12 Memphis and No. 13 Tennessee. Saint Mary’s didn’t crack the Top 25, but the Gaels received 59 votes, good for 27th. The Washington Huskies received eight votes and Washington State received one.
The 11th spot is the second-highest preseason ranking for the Bulldogs, who were seventh in the 2005-06 preseason rankings. Gonzaga opens the exhibition season at 5 p.m. Saturday against Wayne State College of Nebraska in a game that is sold out.
Volleyball
Bulldogs upset No. 22 Dons
Gonzaga University posted just its second West Coast Conference victory of the season, but it was a big one. The Bulldogs downed the nation’s 22nd-ranked team, San Francisco, in five sets at Martin Centre, handing the Dons their first conference defeat.
The Bulldogs (9-16, 2-6) won the first two sets, 25-21 and 25-19. They almost closed out the Dons in three sets before falling 29-27. USF then stormed to a 25-13 victory before Gonzaga recovered for a 15-10 fifth-set win after falling behind 6-3.
Layne Brosky had 17 kills, followed by Elaina Renius (14) and Michelle Boevers (13). Denise Van De Mortel had 51 of the Bulldogs’ 55 assists.
The Bulldogs are host to 15th-ranked San Diego at noon Saturday.